International Booker Prize 2026 Longlist Announced: Witches, War, and Literary Innovation

The longlist for the 10th International Booker Prize, recognizing the best translated fiction published in the past year, has been revealed. Thirteen books translated from eleven languages, representing fourteen nationalities across four continents, are in contention for the £50,000 prize, split equally between author and translator.

A Diverse Selection of Stories

This year’s selection showcases a wide range of themes, from historical explorations of witchcraft and war to contemporary stories of revolution and renewal. Two books on the longlist were originally published over 30 years ago, highlighting the enduring power of translated literature.

Notable Longlisted Titles and Authors

• Olga Ravn (Denmark) & Martin Aitken (Translator): The Wax Child, a novel centered around real 17th-century Danish witch trials.
• Daniel Kehlmann (Germany) & Ross Benjamin (Translator): The Director, inspired by the life of filmmaker G.W. Pabst and his collaborations with the Third Reich. A review in The Guardian described it as Kehlmann’s best work yet, possessing “all the darkness, shapeshifting ambiguity and glittering unease of a modern Grimms’ fairytale.”
• Ia Genberg (Sweden) & Kira Josefsson (Translator): Small Comfort, a collection of five interconnected stories.
• Mathias Énard (France) & Charlotte Mandell (Translator): The Deserters. This nomination marks the 17th International Booker nomination for Fitzcarraldo Editions.
• Gabriela Cabezón Cámara (Argentina) & Robin Myers (Translator): We Are Green and Trembling, which previously won the US National Book Award for translated literature.
• Marie NDiaye (France) & Jordan Stump (Translator): The Witch, a work originally published in 1996. NDiaye was previously longlisted in 2016 and shortlisted in 2013.
• Shahrnush Parsipur (Iran) & Faridoun Farrokh (Translator): Women Without Men, published in Persian in 1989 and banned in Iran.
• Shida Bazyar (Germany) & Ruth Martin (Translator): The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran, a debut novel.
• Matteo Melchiorre (Italy) & Antonella Lettieri (Translator): The Duke, another debut novel on the list.
• Rene Karabash (Bulgaria) & Izidora Angel (Translator): She Who Remains, featuring a woman who avoids an arranged marriage by becoming a sworn virgin.

Judging Panel and Prize Details

The longlist was selected by a panel chaired by novelist Natasha Brown, alongside mathematician Marcus du Sautoy, translator Sophie Hughes, and writers Troy Onyango and Nilanjana S. Roy. The shortlist of six books will be announced on March 31st, with each shortlisted author and translator receiving £5,000. The winner will be announced on May 19th at a ceremony at Tate Modern in London.

Record Number of Submissions

This year saw a record number of submissions, with books originally written in 34 languages, indicating a growing availability of translated works to English-speaking readers. The Booker Prize Foundation also announced that Bukhman Philanthropies is generously funding the International Booker Prize in 2026.

Previous Winners and Recognition

Past winners of the International Booker Prize include Han Kang, Olga Tokarczuk, and Georgi Gospodinov. Notably, four authors recognized by the prize have subsequently been awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature: Han, Tokarczuk, Jon Fosse, and László Krasznahorkai.