Witchcraft and War Dominate a Diverse Selection (Image Credits: Unsplash)
The International Booker Prize revealed its 2026 longlist on February 24, spotlighting 13 exceptional works of translated fiction selected from 128 submissions.
Witchcraft and War Dominate a Diverse Selection
Judges praised the longlist for its bold exploration of human endurance amid conflict and the supernatural. Stories of witch trials, wartime deserters, and post-revolutionary exiles captured their attention.[1][2]
Natasha Brown, the judging panel chair, noted that many entries examined war’s consequences, alongside tales of witchy women, ill-fated lovers, and Big Pharma conspiracies. The books span continents and centuries, from a brutal Brazilian prison colony to a Tehran garden. Original publication dates stretch over four decades, yet each feels innovative. Three debuts join seasoned nominees, including five returning author-translator teams. One title remains banned in Iran, penned by an imprisoned author.
Memorable Characters from Sworn Virgins to Conquistadors
The longlist introduces vivid figures who challenge norms and survive adversity. A teenage girl becomes a “sworn virgin” to evade marriage in “She Who Remains” by Rene Karabash, translated from Bulgarian by Izidora Angel. Gabriela Cabezón Cámara’s “We Are Green and Trembling,” rendered into English by Robin Myers from Spanish, reimagines a queer 17th-century Argentinian conquistador freeing Indigenous girls.[2]
Daniel Kehlmann’s “The Director,” translated by Ross Benjamin from German, probes a filmmaker’s moral compromises under the Nazis. Olga Ravn’s “The Wax Child,” via Martin Aitken from Danish, unfolds witch trials from a wax doll’s eerie viewpoint. These narratives blend magical realism, historical fiction, and stark realism, transporting readers to Albanian villages, Belgian asylums, and Taiwanese tours under colonial rule.
Full Longlist: A Tapestry of Global Voices
The 13 titles represent 14 nationalities across 11 languages, underscoring the prize’s commitment to translated literature. Here is the complete lineup:
- The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated from German by Ruth Martin
- We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated from Spanish by Robin Myers
- The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, translated from Dutch by David McKay
- The Deserters by Mathias Énard, translated from French by Charlotte Mandell
- Small Comfort by Ia Genberg, translated from Swedish by Kira Josefsson
- She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated from Bulgarian by Izidora Angel
- The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated from German by Ross Benjamin
- On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated from Portuguese by Padma Viswanathan
- The Duke by Matteo Melchiorre, translated from Italian by Antonella Lettieri
- The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated from French by Jordan Stump
- Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur, translated from Persian by Faridoun Farrokh
- The Wax Child by Olga Ravn, translated from Danish by Martin Aitken
- Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated from Mandarin Chinese by Lin King
Judges highlighted each book’s unique pull, from the poetic dread in Ana Paula Maia’s penal colony saga to the electric village feud in Matteo Melchiorre’s debut.[2]
Judges Celebrate Translation’s Rising Tide
The panel, chaired by author Natasha Brown and including Marcus du Sautoy, Sophie Hughes, Troy Onyango, and Nilanjana S. Roy, read submissions published in the UK or Ireland from May 2025 to April 2026. Brown described the selection as a “sparkling” mix of pocket-sized gems and doorstoppers. The £50,000 prize splits equally between winning author and translator, with £5,000 each for shortlisted pairs. A shortlist of six emerges on March 31, followed by the winner on May 19 at London’s Tate Modern.[1]
Supported by Bukhman Philanthropies, the prize marks its 10th year rewarding translation equally. Sales of such fiction have doubled since 2016, with 34 languages submitted this year – a record.
Key Takeaways
- 13 books from 11 languages showcase war, witchcraft, and reinvention.
- Prize money emphasizes translators’ vital role.
- Shortlist announcement set for March 31, 2026.
This longlist reaffirms translated fiction’s power to bridge worlds and provoke thought. Which title intrigues you most? Share your thoughts in the comments.
