Booker Prize judges' tussle yields six-book shortlist

The Booker Prize judging panel—Dame Mary Beard (chair), Rebecca Liu, Jarvis Cocker, Raymond Antrobus and Patricia Lockwood—described a ‘tussle’ in narrowing the longlist to six finalists for 2026, including past winners Marlon James (The Disappearers) and Douglas Stuart (John of John). The other shortlisted titles are The End of Everything (M John Harrison), Black Bag (Luke Kennard), May We Feed the King (Rebecca Perry) and The Things We Never Say (Elizabeth Strout). Seven longlisted books were dropped, including Emma Cline’s Switzy. The winner receives £50,000 and will be announced in London on 9 November, with BBC Radio 4’s Front Row broadcasting the ceremony.