The Canada Reads 2026 Longlist Has Been Announced

Jan 9

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The Canada Reads 2026 longlist has officially dropped, and I love this part of the Canada Reads season—the moment when everything still feels wide open. Fifteen books have been selected this year, and together they reflect just how expansive and exciting Canadian literature continues to be.

What stands out to me most about the 2026 longlist is its range. These stories span multiple genres, from literary fiction and memoir to romance, historical fiction, and darker, more unsettling reads. It’s a reminder that Canadian storytelling isn’t one thing—it’s many voices, many perspectives, and many ways of seeing the world.

Canada Reads is all about connection, and this year’s theme—finding one book that can build bridges—feels especially timely. Long before the debates begin, the longlist invites readers to explore stories that challenge, comfort, and expand our understanding of one another.

If you’re new to the format, five Canadian celebrities will each choose one book to defend, debating their picks over four days and voting one out each day until a winner is crowned. The debates will air April 13 to 16 across CBC platforms.

The panellists and their chosen books will be revealed on January 22. Until then, I’m soaking in the longlist and wondering which stories will spark the biggest conversations this year.