The 2026 International Booker Prize shortlist was announced yesterday. It includes two first-time novels—The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran and She Who Remains—alongside The Witch, a work that was originally published three decades ago. 

This year’s selection highlights a truly global range of talent, with authors and translators connected to eight different countries—Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, France, Germany, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Women are strongly represented as well, making up the majority of both the authors and translators featured.

The shortlisted titles were originally written in a variety of languages, including Bulgarian, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, and Portuguese, reflecting the rich linguistic diversity at the heart of international storytelling.

The list includes:

The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by  Shida Bazyar

She Who Remains by Rene Karabash 

The Director by Daniel Kehlmann  

On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia 

The Witch by Marie NDiaye

Taiwan Travelogue by Yang Shuang-zi  

All will be available at the library soon to check out or reserve.   For those who prefer to read electronically, explore our digital library offerings, including e-books and audiobooks on LIBBY.