Today, Tuesday, 31st March 2026, the shortlist for the International Booker Prize 2026 supported by Bukhman Philanthropies is announced. This year the prize is celebrating 10 years in its current form, in which time it has become the world’s most influential award for translated fiction.  

The shortlist of six books has been chosen by the 2026 judging panel, chaired by award-winning author Natasha Brown. Brown is joined by writer, broadcaster and Oxford University Professor of Mathematics and for the Public Understanding of Science Marcus du Sautoy; International Booker Prize-shortlisted translator Sophie Hughes; writer, Lolwe editor and bookseller Troy Onyango; and award-winning novelist and columnist Nilanjana S. Roy. 

The 2026 Shortlist, with the Judges' Comments

The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated from German by Ruth Martin  

"Timely, tender, political and wonderfully human, it follows an Iranian family from revolution into exile, exploring a dream of freedom that never dies."

She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated from Bulgarian by Izidora Angel  

"An exquisitely written, brilliantly observed story about a young woman in a contemporary Albanian tribal society, and a blood feud that sets off her journey to self-discovery."

The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated from German by Ross Benjamin  

"Exploring how G.W. Pabst descended into the morally dubious position of making films for the Nazis, it uses audacious and sparklingly comic writing to tell a dark story." Awarded a LoveReading Star Book this was decribed by Liz Robinson: "A gripping, sharply observed story - it's one heck of a read."

On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated from Portuguese by Padma Viswanathan 

"A brutal, haunting and hypnotic novella set in a remote Brazilian penal colony where the boundaries between justice and cruelty collapse. Spare, unflinching and relentless."

The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated from French by Jordan Stump  

"A darkly comic and beautifully crafted novel where magic and reality collide to create an unconventional exploration of motherhood."

Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated from Mandarin Chinese by Lin King  

"Following a Japanese woman on a government-sponsored tour of 1930s Taiwan, this is an insightful post-colonial novel that reads like a delicious romance."

More about the International Booker Prize

The selection celebrates the best works of long-form fiction or collections of short stories translated into English and published in the UK and/or Ireland between 1st May 2025 and 30th April 2026. The longlist of 13 books was announced on Tuesday, 24th February 2026 and was selected by the panel from 128 books submitted by publishers. 

The International Booker Prize recognises the vital work of translation, with the £50,000 prize money divided equally between the winning author and translator/s. Each shortlisted title will be awarded a prize of £5,000: £2,500 for the author and £2,500 for the translator. In championing works from around the world that have originated in a wide range of languages, the prize fosters an engaged global community of writers and readers whose experiences and interests transcend national borders.   

The announcement of the winning book will take place on Tuesday, 19th May 2026 at a ceremony at Tate Modern in London. The announcement will be livestreamed on the Booker Prizes social media channels. 

Natasha Brown, Chair of Judges, says: 

‘Our shortlist offers readers a six-stop tour of highlights from the world of translated fiction.  

‘With narratives that capture moments from across the past century, these books reverberate with history. While there’s heartbreak, brutality, and isolation among these stories, their lasting effect is energising. Rereading each book, we judgesfound hope, insight and burning humanity – along with unforgettable characters to whom I’m sure readers will return again and again. 

‘Make space on your TBRs; this is an unmissable reading list’. 

Gaby Wood, CEO of Booker Prize Foundation adds: 

‘2026 marks the 10th anniversary of the International Booker Prize in its current form. In each of those years it has reminded us of the way translated fiction allows us to travel through stories, unbound by geographical borders.  

‘This year’s shortlist, selected with great care by our stellar panel of judges, does that particularly well. It takes  readers on a culinary tour of Taiwan in the 1930s; on a family’s journey of migration from revolutionary Iran to a new life in Germany; from the bright lights of Hollywood to the terror of Nazi Germany; to one woman’s survival in a community ruled by ancient laws in the Albanian alps; through suburban France, where even witchcraft offers no escape from stifling domesticity; to an apocalyptic prison colony in Brazil where few get out alive. 

‘I’m delighted that, thanks to generous funding from Bukhman Philanthropies, we are able to gift 500 copies of these remarkable novels through libraries, ensuring that more readers can travel through the world’s best fiction, and that more people can join us in celebrating a decade of this prize.’ 

This year’s International Booker Prize campaign is called ‘Fiction beyond borders’. It is a celebration of the way translated fiction opens us up to different experiences and perspectives, creating connections across continents. The campaign, which also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the prize, invites readers around the world to come together and explore this year’s nominated books – and the previous 10 winners – united by a shared love of great fiction. Watch campaign films ">here. 

For more information visit www.thebookerprizes.com 

@TheBookerPrizes #InternationalBooker2026