2026 National Book Awards Longlist

The National Book Foundation annually honors the best in American literature with the prestigious National Book Awards, and the longlist for 2026 has finally been revealed. From eye-opening memoirs to indelible novels, unforgettable children’s literature and more, we’re thrilled to celebrate this year’s nominees. 

Fiction

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After a life of exile, grief and loss, one Palestinian man propels forward in search of meaning in Paradiso17. Poet Hannah Lillith Assadi takes readers on a lyrical journey through fate and across countries for a brilliant, moving debut novel about the life of a refugee.

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This debut story collection from poet Kimberly Blaeser explores alienation and belonging in Indigenous America through a blend of humor, horror and magical realism. 

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Forever changed by an unexpected and dangerous encounter, Magnolia is forced to face the memories she tried to leave behind in this multigenerational story of family, resilience and hope.

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A grieving father reflects on his past and the life he could’ve had in this sharp, tender story of identity, love and family set in the heart of Colombia. 

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Written over twenty years, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Louise Erdrich returns with a collection of short stories featuring one-of-a-kind, vibrant characters and exceptional wisdom. 

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The author of the Booker Prize–winning A Brief History of Seven Killings returns with a deeply human story exploring queer life in Jamaica during the 1980s and 1990s.

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The author of Lost Children Archive returns with a moving story of possibility and self-discovery spanning four generations of women and the lives they helped shape.

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A moving celebration of the complex bond between fathers and daughters, Passengers follows Nina and Ivan as they find themselves stranded in an airport on the brink of an apocalypse.

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Living in exile, Dilara feels the constant pull of her homeland, until an unexpected prison materializes within her home in this haunting tale steeped in magical realism.

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A tender and surreal story of a trans healthcare worker navigating life, love and politics in the swamps of Florida. 

Nonfiction

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Rozina Ali interrogates the United States government's responsibility for the persecution and increased violence faced by Muslim Americans. Following four families across eight decades, this is a revelatory, necessary read. 

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Analyzing the impact that the criminal justice system has on music and musicians, Colin Asher highlights the artists who helped shape American music, from blues to hip-hop and everything in between. 

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Born underground to a family of fugitives, Zayd Ayers Dohrn lived a childhood on the run. This propulsive memoir is both an illuminating history of the Weathermen revolutionaries and a personal reckoning of Dohrn's relationship with his parents. 

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This memoir of survival and hope follows an Egyptian student activist and his father who became political prisoners  after attending a protest, illuminating the brutalities of incarceration and injustice. 

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A poet showcases the power of language through her own experiences as a political speechwriter and influence of thinkers who came before her. 

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Journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist Wil Haygood analyzes the mirrored struggle of Black Americans who were on the frontlines during the Vietnam War with those living in the states and fighting for freedom.

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As a member of the deaf community, Sara Novic reflects on what it really means to belong in this poignant, honest memoir about family, community and resilience. 

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Spawning Season is a fascinating look at modern parenting, following scientist Joseph Osmundson’s personal, complex journey towards fatherhood.  This is a thought-provoking exploration of queer parenting, relationships and masculinity.

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A breathtaking collection of essays covering crisis, resilience and hope from the author of Limber. Meditative and reflective, Angela Pelster’s The Evolution of Fire is a testament to the human spirit. 

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In A Dead White, white paint becomes the focal point of an ever-changing world. Wendy S. Walters traces the influence that the material has had on everything from art to architecture and everywhere in between.

Poetry

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Inspirations for this collection include the sawing of a eucalyptus tree and the art of Hilma af Kilnt, for evocative poems bound by recurring imagery of trees and fingertips. 

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Hide is a striking visual poetry collection drawing from the memory and history of the author's Palestinian and Cuban heritage.

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These poems journey into a mid-century family home, exploring its rooms, objects and the domestic lives of the mothers and children who spend their days there. This is an expansive treatise on time and mortality.

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Chronicling a queer coming-of-age, The Bronze Arms evokes classical Greek imagery, childhood memories and modern depictions of sex and love for a captivating collection.

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This blend of poetry, essays and photography is a searing portrayal of grief and hope in Gaza from Palestinian American poet Fady Joudah.

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Layli Long Soldier explores community, family and history in this collection of poetry, essays and artwork inspired by Lakota traditions.

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PEN America Award–winning poet Jonah Mixon-Webster returns with a new collection of transformative poems that explore the complicated realities of modern America.

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Jake Rose reimagines the life and legacy of Joan of Arc by weaving lyrical poems and historical texts to explore that it means to break boundaries and transform oneself.

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Navajo Nation Poet Laureate Jake Skeet traces the effects of climate change on the fragile landscape of Navajo Nation over time in this collection of works.

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Through a series of nature-inspired works, including songs, stories and elegies, Susan Stewart offers a powerful meditation on the passing of time and the changing of seasons.

Translated Literature

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Exploring the effects of gender roles, colonialism and illness, this coming-of-age story follows a young Azerbaijani woman losing control of her muscles and reevaluating her relationship with her physical self. This debut novel from Egana Djabbarova is singular and striking.

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This epic western glides between the past and present, reality and myth for a sweeping and witty alternative history of the Mexico-US border wars.

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Eden at Dawn is a beautiful love story between two young Palestinian men navigating desire, blazing sandstorms and a divided country. This is an ode to resilience and devotion amidst a violent world.

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This dark twist on Christopher Marlowe’s classic play Doctor Faustus is a cautionary tale about the price of success and the moral dilemma that follows.

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The search for her missing husband leads Min-Hui from a quiet life in Taiwan to Beijing, where she reflects on her latest novel and falls into a love affair. Unsent letters and historical context are interwoven in the narrative for a sophisticated meditation on marriage and liberation.

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In a small European village at the beginning of the nineteenth century, Redo Hauptshammer uncovers a collection of frozen bodies that leads to a compelling mystery in this genre-bending tale infused with magical realism.

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In Night of a Thousand Hells, Intan Paramaditha weaves Indonesian legend with Islamic mysticism for a haunting tale following two sisters who are forever changed by a tragic act of violence.

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In Senegal, a French literature professor witnesses the realities of homophobia in this powerful novel about courage, identity and strength from the author of The Most Secret Memory of Men.

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Exiled in the city of B, a struggling young writer unexpectedly gravitates towards the circus in this hypnotic novel that examines the relationship between identity, language and art.

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With stories of strength, resilience and loss, Syrian journalist Samar Yazbek shares real accounts from 26 Palestinians who fought for survival on October 7th, 2023 and the harrowing days that followed.

Young Peoples Literature

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Two misunderstood students navigating complex home lives find solace and connection through their high school poetry club in this tender romance.

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"When Nora travels to Paris to spread her mother's ashes, the journey takes her further than she expected. Set in a complicated post-pandemic world, Elana K. Arnold paints a unique portrait of healing and forgiveness. "

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This queer science fiction retelling of Moby Dick is a tale of revenge and belonging starring a misfit crew sailing through space.

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After receiving a harrowing prophecy, three friends must overcome their growing differences to prevent future destruction. Newbery Award-winning author Tae Keller crafts a story of fate, friendship and hope.

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On a mission to find her missing sister, a Hawaiian teen is led to an isolated luxury resort that isn't what it seems. As her investigation unfolds, each secret is bloodier and more horrifying than the last.

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Through meticulous research and thoughtful interviews, David Levithan and Gabriel Duckels offer an accessible and informative look at AIDS crisis and its lasting impact on LGBTQ+ communities.

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Finding friends can be the toughest part of seventh grade, and Luna learns firsthand in this empowering story of self-discovery from the author of Magnolia Wu Unfolds It All.

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This uplifting picture book tells the true story of Patrick Kelly, one of the most influential designers of the twentieth century. From his early days sewing with his grandmother, to showcasing his vibrant fashions all over the world, Kelly shows just how important it is to chase your dreams.

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When his basketball dreams are sidelined due to an injury, Shake learns the power of vulnerability and the value in asking for help in this insightful tale of resilience and self-discovery.

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An out-of-this-world tale following 12-year-old Leo, who sets off into space to find his missing dad and unexpectedly discovers mysterious creatures living on the moon.