Today, the Women’s Prize Trust – the charity building a better future by championing women’s writing – has revealed the shortlist for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. Spanning politics, history, art, health, science and memoir, this “timely and timeless“ shortlist is testament to how vital women’s writing is to our understanding of the world, and our imagining of tomorrow. 

The Prize celebrates excellent, original and accessible narrative non-fiction written by female thought-leaders, changemakers and experts, and is sponsored by Findmypast and supported by the Charlotte Aitken Trust, who gift the £30,000 prize fund and Charlotte sculpture for the winner. The sixteen titles on the longlist has been whittled down to the final six.

The 2026 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction Shortlist 

The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan by Lyse Doucet 

Judge Nicola Elliott said: “The Finest Hotel in Kabul is an epic tale of life throughout the rise, fall and rise of the Taliban, cleverly told through the lens of the staff of the infamous Hotel Inter-Continental. I found it incredibly human and readable – it is a work of art in many unexpected ways.” 

Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health by Daisy Fancourt 

Judge Thangam Debbonaire said: “Art Cure is a work of academic rigor and a compelling story from start to finish. The beautiful case studies illustrate the clearly explained data. Daisy is a top-flight scientist, producing large population surveys to explore the effects of different and combined art forms on our health. Whether you are a sceptic, a policy-maker, or just want to know more about how art of all forms affects us – this book is brilliant!” 

Artists, Siblings, Visionaries: The Lives and Loves of Gwen and Augustus John by Judith Mackrell

Judge Nina Stibbe said: “Artists, Siblings, Visionaries blends art history and biography to explore the vastly different lived experience of two extraordinary twentieth-century figures. Rooted in meticulous research, with surprising and compelling detail, the book reads as beautifully as a novel.” 

Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War by Jane Rogoyska 

Judge Thangam Debbonaire said: “Hotel Exile takes the Hotel Lutetia in Paris, before, during and after the Second World War as a vehicle for exploring what happened to Jewish refugees from Germany – artists, philosophers, writers and campaigners in particular. This is rigorously researched, lyrical storytelling about the tragic loss of lives and of lost human potential, as Jews were deported from France to the death camps by Nazi occupation forces with collusion from French authorities.” 

Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy 

The first memoir by the celebrated writer and political essayist Arundhati Roy, Set between Kerala and Delhi, Roy presents an intimate and inspiring exploration of identity, mother-daughter relationships, love and conflict, and how this has shaped Roy into the person and writer she is today. 

Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century by Ece Temelkuran 

Judge Nicola Williams said: “Nation of Strangers could not be a more timely book. The issue of migration is one that concerns us all, and Ece explores the hidden complexities that are rarely looked at within the immigrant experience. I absolutely loved it.”

These six exceptional books examine their very different subjects – from migration, conflict and othering, to creativity, wellbeing, and connection – through a deeply personal lens.

They are far-reaching, global stories – spanning Asia, Europe and the Middle-East – but by giving a voice to individual experiences and perspectives, they reveal new universal truths. They show the breadth of excellent non-fiction writing, demonstrating that it can be simultaneously rigorous and poetic, informative and compelling, authoritative and deeply human. 

Each of the six shortlisted writers – whose expertise and experience amongst them includes a scientist, dance critic, political correspondent, novelist, and filmmaker – take readers on an illuminating journey across different histories, geographies, politics and cultures, that both spotlights and scrutinises humanity’s cruelty, resilience, courage and adaptability. 

The Gender Bias in Women's Non-Fiction

Claire Shanahan, Executive Director of the Women’s Prize Trust, said: 

“We awarded the first Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction in 2024 because women’s voices were systemically underrepresented in most narrative non-fiction disciplines, as well as being overlooked in review coverage, award recognition and receiving lower advances. New research we’ve commissioned at the Women’s Prize Trust shows that – whilst some progress has been made in certain disciplines recently – progress is slow and male writers continue to dominate in most non-fiction genres, and so more needs to be done to develop the talent pipeline."

While women writers of non-fiction are starting to gain some market share** in “authoritative” genres like Popular Science (22% in 2025, up from 11% in 2023) and Philosophy (10% in 2025, up from 5% in 2023), male writers continue to dominate most non-fiction disciplines. This is particularly true of Business & Management (93%), Sport (90%), and Politics & Current Affairs (82%). The bias is also evidenced by consumer habits – women are significantly more likely to purchase titles written by women (75%) than men (25%).

Thangam Debbonaire, Chair of Judges, said: 

“Whittling our remarkable longlist down to just six titles was by no means an easy task, but after careful consideration, we are proud to present a shortlist that celebrates six exceptional books and six hugely talented writers, and offers readers collectively a timely and timeless interrogation of our world today. 

Our shortlist shows the power and necessity of women’s writing at a time when recent statistics suggest a decline in non-fiction print sales in the UK. These books are an urgent antidote to mis- and dis-information, written with high standards of scholarship. They offer rich and original insights, in what often feels like a fragmented and uncertain world. They are six books of authority, told with humanity.” 

Further information on the Shortlist 

The winner of the 2026 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction will be revealed on Thursday 11th June 2026 at the Women’s Prize Trust’s summer party in Bedford Square Gardens, London (along with the winner of its sister prize, the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction, with the winner of the longlisted titles.)

The winner of the 2026 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, sponsored by Findmypast, will receive £30,000 and a limited-edition artwork known as the ‘Charlotte’ sculpted by Ann Christopher RA FRSS, and both gifted by the Charlotte Aitken Trust. Previous winners include Dr Rachel Clarke (The Story of a Heart, 2025) and Naomi Klein (Doppelganger, 2024). 

About the Women’s Prize Trust 

The Women’s Prize Trust is the registered charity building a better future by championing women’s writing. 

The Trust believes that every woman’s voice has the power to elicit and inspire change – regardless of age, race, nationality or background – and through its work tackling the gender disparity within the world of books, is putting women’s words into the hands of more readers. The Trust is behind the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the largest celebration of women’s creativity in the world, and the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, recognising brilliant writing written by female thought-leaders, changemakers and experts. 

The charity also empowers new voices, helping to unlock potential, boost confidence, and increase skills and knowledge through writer development programmes and prizes such as ‘Discoveries’. It also inspires a global, inclusive community of readers, sharing stories and information to reduce isolation, create empathy and enhance mental wellbeing. 

Claire Shanahan is Executive Director of the Women’s Prize Trust; Anna Rafferty is Chair of the Board; Kate Mosse CBE FRSL is Founder Director for the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction. 

About the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction 

The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction celebrates narrative non-fiction written by female thought-leaders, changemakers and experts. It is awarded annually to works of narrative non-fiction written in English and published in the United Kingdom between 1 April and 31 March the following year. It celebrates excellence in writing and research, strong and original narrative voices, and accessibility. The winner receives a cheque for £30,000 and a limited-edition artwork known as the ‘Charlotte’, created by the sculptor Ann Christopher RA FRSS. Both are gifted by the Charlotte Aitken Trust.

More information about the charitable mission of the Women’s Prize Trust can be found here: www.womensprize.com 

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