The longlists for the 2026 National Book Awards have been revealed, featuring categories such as Young People’s Literature, Translated Literature, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Fiction. The announcement comes from The New Yorker, which also includes recommendations in its What We’re Reading newsletter.
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Notable works on the longlist include Louise Erdrich’s “Python’s Kiss,” which features several stories previously published in The New Yorker, including “Nero” from 2012 and the recent “Love of My Days” from 2025. Other authors contributing fiction to the magazine who made the longlist this year include Edwidge Danticat and Valeria Luiselli. An excerpt from Luiselli’s novel “Beginning Middle End” appeared in February.
Other contenders recognized this year include Kenan Orhan’s “The Renovation,” Hannah Lillith Assadi’s “Paradiso 17,” and Marlon James’ “The Disappearers,” all of which are also featured on The New Yorker’s best books list for 2026.
The judges for the Fiction category include Matt Bell, author of “Appleseed”; Caro De Robertis (Chair), author of “Cantoras”; Danielle King, a bookseller from Left Bank Books; Akhil Sharma, author of “Family Life”; and Diane Wilson, author of “The Seed Keeper.”
This March, The New Yorker published an excerpt of Zayd Ayers Dohrn’s memoir “Dangerous, Dirty, Violent, and Young,” which reflects on his upbringing in the Weather Underground. In August, an excerpt from Rozina Ali’s “Seasons of Fury” explored the post-9/11 security state through the lens of four Muslim American families. Nine of the ten authors on this year's longlist are being honored by the National Book Awards for the first time, with Camonghne Felix being a past nominee for Poetry in 2019.
The longlist also highlights books spanning various topics, including ecological themes in Brenda Hillman’s poetry collection “Still House in the Desert.” Four poets on the list—Victoria Chang, Fady Joudah, Layli Long Soldier, and Hillman—have been previously recognized by the National Book Awards.
Translated works include Karl Ove Knausgaard’s “The School of Night,” part of his “Morning Star” series that he began during the pandemic. This year’s longlist features translations from seven languages, including the first Indonesian translation nominated, Intan Paramaditha’s “Night of a Thousand Hells.”
In total, the longlist comprises fiction, nonfiction, poetic novels, and a picture book. Several titles focus on the impact of art and the written word, while others delve into supernatural themes and journeys through time. This year, Elana K. Arnold and David Levithan are among those nominated previously for the award.
Judging for the Young People’s Literature category will be led by Brandy Colbert (Chair), alongside Edith Campbell, Tricia Ebarvia, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, and Anne Ursu.
For information regarding the 77th National Book Awards and the live announcement of winners, visit nationalbook.org/awards.