Douglas Stuart has been shortlisted for The Booker Prize 2026.
‘John of John is the heartbreaking story of a young man’s return home and how the bonds of family life are torn by the weight of expectation. . . [it] confirms Douglas Stuart as one of the great British writers at work today.’
The shortlist of six books has been selected by the 2026 judging panel, chaired by celebrated classicist, writer and broadcaster Mary Beard. Beard is joined by award-winning poet, writer and educator Raymond Antrobus; musician, writer and broadcaster Jarvis Cocker; journalist, editor and critic Rebecca Liu; and Booker Prize-shortlisted novelist, poet and essayist Patricia Lockwood.
The prize has rewarded and celebrated world-class talent for over 55 years, shaping the canon of 20th and 21st century English language literature. This year’s selection, which was chosen from ‘the Booker Dozen’ of 13 titles, selected from 163 submissions, celebrates the best works of long-form fiction by writers of any nationality, written in English and published in the UK and/or Ireland between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026.
The winning book will be announced on Monday, 9 November 2026 at a ceremony at Old Billingsgate in London.
Read what else the judges had to say about John of John here.
The Booker Prize 2026 shortlist photograph © Yuki Sugiura for Booker Prize Foundation