2026 British Book Awards Shortlist Unveiled: A Celebration of Courage and Truth
The 2026 British Book Awards shortlist has been officially announced, placing powerful narratives of survival and corporate accountability at its core. Epstein survivor Virginia Giuffre and Meta whistleblower Sarah Wynn-Williams headline the nominations, symbolising a year dedicated to courage and truth-telling within the literary world.
Diverse Field Balances Hard-Hitting Reportage with National Treasures
Their compelling accounts of systemic abuse and corporate negligence join a remarkably diverse array of nominees that skillfully balances investigative rigour with the comforting presence of beloved cultural figures. Household icons such as comedian Kathy Burke, rock legend Ozzy Osbourne, and entertainer Bob Mortimer feature prominently alongside global literary giants like Arundhati Roy and Philip Pullman.
This eclectic mix underscores the unique ability of the "Nibbies" to bridge grassroots activism with mainstream cultural prestige, creating a platform where serious social commentary coexists with widespread popular appeal.
Significant Shifts in UK Reading Landscape Reflected in New Categories
The 2026 nominations mark a notable evolution in the United Kingdom's reading habits, with the introduction of new categories for Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Romance. These additions directly reflect the genres currently dominating bestseller charts and reader interest across the nation.
From the meticulous investigative work of historian Andrew Lownie to the whimsical, heartwarming illustrations of Charlie Mackesy, the comprehensive shortlists celebrate a nation rediscovering the joy of reading in all its varied forms. Whether through debut fiction or high-stakes non-fiction, these nominated works demonstrate that well-published words remain among our most vital tools for shaping societal discourse and holding power to account.
Complete 2026 British Book Awards Shortlist
Author of the Year
- A.F. Steadman (Simon & Schuster Children’s Books)
- Charlie Mackesy (Ebury Press, Penguin Random House)
- Elif Shafak (Viking, Penguin Random House)
- Freida McFadden (Sourcebooks, DK)
- Mick Herron (John Murray, Hachette)
- Ruth Jones (Bantam, Transworld)
Illustrator of the Year
- Dav Pilkey (Scholastic)
- Emily Gravett (Two Hoots, Pan Macmillan)
- Huw Aaron (Puffin, Penguin Random House Children’s)
- Ingela P Arrhenius (Nosy Crow)
- Mikey Please (HarperCollins Children’s Books)
- Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Children’s Books)
Book of the Year – Fiction
- Boleyn Traitor by Philippa Gregory (HarperFiction)
- Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (4th Estate, HarperCollins)
- Heart the Lover by Lily King (Canongate)
- My Friends by Fredrik Backman (Simon & Schuster UK)
- Strange Pictures by Uketsu, translated by Jim Rion (Pushkin Vertigo, Pushkin Press)
- The Rose Field: The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman (Penguin and David Fickling Books)
Book of the Year – Debut Fiction
- Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis (Weidenfeld & Nicolson, The Orion Publishing Group)
- Nesting by Roisín O'Donnell (Scribner UK, Simon & Schuster UK)
- The Artist by Lucy Steeds (John Murray Press, The John Murray Group)
- The Boy from the Sea by Garrett Carr (Picador, Pan Macmillan)
- The House of Wolf by Tony Robinson (Sphere, Little, Brown)
- The Names by Florence Knapp (Phoenix, The Orion Publishing Group)
Book of the Year – Crime & Thriller
- A Case of Mice and Murder by Sally Smith (Raven Books, Bloomsbury)
- Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall (Penguin Michael Joseph)
- The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (The Borough Press, HarperCollins UK)
- The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (Viking, Penguin General)
- The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown (Bantam, Transworld)
- The Tenant by Freida McFadden (Poisoned Pen Press, Sourcebooks)
Book of the Year – Non-Fiction: Narrative
- A Mind of My Own by Kathy Burke (Gallery UK, Simon & Schuster UK)
- Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Macmillan, Pan Macmillan)
- Entitled by Andrew Lownie (William Collins, HarperCollins)
- Last Rites by Ozzy Ozbourne (Sphere, Little, Brown)
- Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy (Hamish Hamilton, Penguin Random House UK)
- Nobody’s Girl: A Memoir of Surviving Abuse and Fighting for Justice by Virginia Roberts Giuffre, co-written by Amy Wallace (Doubleday, Transworld)
Book of the Year – Non-Fiction: Lifestyle & Illustrated
- Always Remember by Charlie Mackesy (Ebury Press, Ebury)
- Eat Yourself Healthy by Jamie Oliver (Penguin Michael Joseph)
- Forgotten Churches by Luke Sherlock, illustrations by Ioana Pioaru (Frances Lincoln, Quarto)
- Padella by Tim Siadatan (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Protein in 15 by Joe Wicks (LEAP, Bonnier Books UK)
- To the Women by Donna Ashworth (Black & White, Bonnier Books UK)
Book of the Year – Audiobook: Fiction
- Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney, narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton (Macmillan, Pan Macmillan)
- Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite, narrated by Weruche Opia, Diana Yekinni and Nnei Opia Clark (W. F. Howes)
- One of Us by Elizabeth Day, narrated by Richard Armitage, Oliver Chris, Emilia Fox, Genevieve Gaunt and Bella Maclean (4th Estate, HarperCollins)
- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, adapted by Lulu Raczka, narrated by Marisa Abela, Harris Dickinson, Glenn Close, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Bill Nighy, Sophie Wilde, Will Poulter, Jessie Buckley, et al. (Audible Original, Audible Original)
- The Long Shoe by Bob Mortimer, narrated by Bob Mortimer, Diane Morgan and Arabella Weir (Gallery UK, Simon & Schuster Audio UK)
- The Rose Field: The Book of Dust by Philip Pullman and Christopher Wormell, narrated by Michael Sheen (Penguin Audio)
Book of the Year – Audiobook: Non-Fiction
- A Mind of My Own by Kathy Burke, narrated by Kathy Burke (Gallery UK, Simon & Schuster Audio UK)
- Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams, narrated by Sarah Wynn-Williams (Macmillan, Pan Macmillan)
- Entitled by Andrew Lownie, narrated by Andrew Lownie (William Collins, HarperCollins)
- Moral Ambition by Rutger Bregman, narrated by Boris Hiestand with Rutger Bregman (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- The Deep Magic of Daily Consistency: A Life-Changing Way to Set Your Greatness Free by Robin Sharma, narrated by Robin Sharma (Bolinda Originals, Bolinda)
- When Gavin Met Stacey and Everything in Between: A Story of Love and Friendship by Ruth Jones and James Corden, narrated by Ruth Jones and James Corden (Penguin Random House Audio)
Book of the Year – Discover
- Beyond/Tu Hwnt by Bethany Handley, Megan Angharad Hunter and Sioned Erin Hughes (Lucent Dreaming)
- Human, Animal by Seth Insua (VERVE Books)
- The Age of Olive Trees by Haia Mohammed (Out-Spoken Press)
- The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson (Cassava Republic Press)
- The Other Father Christmas by Serena Holly (Storymix Books)
- The Science of Racism by Keon West (Picador, Pan Macmillan)
Book of the Year – Graphic Novel
- Bunny Vs Monkey: Intergalatic Monkey Business by Jamie Smart (Phoenix Comic Books, David Fickling Books)
- Dog Man: Big Jim Believes by Dav Pilkey (Scholastic)
- Ginseng Roots by Craig Thompson (Faber)
- InvestiGators: Case Files by John Patrick Green with Steve Behling and Chris Fenoglio (Macmillan Children’s Books)
- This Slavery by Ethel Carnie Holdsworth, text adapted by Sophie Rickard (SelfMadeHero)
- Who Killed Nessie? by Paul Cornell and Rachael Smith (Avery Hill Publishing)
Book of the Year – Romantic Fiction
- All Together for Christmas by Sarah Morgan (HQ, HarperCollins UK)
- An Almost Perfect Summer by Jill Mansell (Headline Review)
- Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (Viking, Penguin Random House)
- King of Envy by Ana Huang (Piatkus, Little, Brown)
- Our Sweet Violet by Rosie Goodwin (Zaffre Books, Bonnier Books UK)
- The Strawberry Patch Pancake House by Laurie Gilmore (One More Chapter, HarperCollins UK)
Book of the Year – Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Alchemised by SenLinYu (Penguin Michael Joseph)
- Brimstone by Callie Hart (Hodderscape, Hodder & Stoughton)
- Ice by Jacek Dukaj, translated by Ursula Phillips (Ad Astra, Head of Zeus)
- Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (HarperVoyager, HarperCollins UK)
- Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Piatkus, Little, Brown)
- The Devils by Joe Abercrombie (Gollancz, The Orion Publishing Group)
Book of the Year – Children’s Fiction
- A Language of Dragons by S.F. Williamson (Harper Fire, HarperCollins Children's Books)
- Fearless by Lauren Roberts (Simon & Schuster, Children's Books)
- Lottie Brooks vs the Ultra Mean Girls by Katie Kirby, illustrated by Katie Kirby (Puffin, Penguin Random House Children's)
- Skandar and the Spirit War by A.F. Steadman (Simon & Schuster Children's Books, Simon & Schuster UK)
- Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic)
- The Adventures of Rap Kid by MC Grammar (Gallery Kids, Simon & Schuster Children's Books)
Book of the Year – Children's Non-Fiction Illustrated
- Fold Out + Play: Doll’s House illustrated by Ingela P Arrhenius (Nosy Crow)
- My Rice Is Best by Selina Brown, illustrated by Maxwell Oginni (Puffin, Penguin Random House Children's)
- Oh Dear, Look What I Got! by Michael Rosen, illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (Helen Oxenbury, Walker Books)
- Sammy Feels Shy by Tom Percival, illustrated by Tom Percival (Bloomsbury Children's Books, Bloomsbury Publishing)
- The Wizard's Guide to Magical Experiments by AJ Wood, illustrated by Jo Rioux (Magic Cat Publishing)
