Books / News
Bristol to host International Booker Prize readings for the first time ever
Bibliophiles in Bristol will have the chance to hear from authors and translators shortlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026 at an exclusive event in the city.
For the first time ever, Bristol will host readings for the prestigious literature award and hear from the people behind the shortlisted titles.
The event will be held at Bristol Beacon on May 15 in partnership with Translated By, Bristol, a festival founded in 2025 to celebrate translated literature.
The longlist for the prize was announced on Tuesday – photo: Booker Prizes
Shortlisted authors and translators will read from and discuss their nominated titles at this annual event, which is normally hosted at Southbank in London.
Following the discussions at Bristol Beacon, attendees will also have a chance to get their books signed by the shortlisted authors and translators.
The longlist for the prize was officially announced on Tuesday, with the shortlist scheduled to be announced on March 31.
Banu Mushtaq’s collection of short stories from southern Indian, The Heart Lamp, translated by Deepa Bhasthi was awarded the accolade in 2025.
Books longlisted for the International Booker Prize 2026 include:
- The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated by Ruth Martin
- We Are Green and Trembling by Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, translated by Robin Myers
- The Remembered Soldier by Anjet Daanje, translated by David McKay
- The Deserters by Mathias Énard, translated by Charlotte Mandell
- Small Comfort by Ia Genberg, translated by Kira Josefsson
- She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated by Izidora Angel
- The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated by Ross Benjamin
- On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated by Padma Viswanathan
- The Duke by Matteo Melchiorre, translated by Antonella Lettieri
- The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated by Jordan Stump
- Women Without Men by Shahrnush Parsipur, translated by Faridoun Farrokh
- The Wax Child by Olga Ravn, translated by Martin Aitken
- Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated by Lin King
The readings will be held at Latern Hall in Bristol Beacon – photo: Tim Crocket / Bristol Beacon
The books on the longlist were chosen from 128 submissions, were published in the UK and Ireland between May 1 2025 and April 30 2026.
The winner of the International Booker Prize 2026 will be announced on May 26 at Tate Modern in London, and will be awarded a sum of £50,000 prize to be equally divided between the author and translator.
Tickets for the readings in Bristol can be purchased here: bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/international-booker-prize-2026
Main photo: Booker Prizes
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