2026 Giller Prize: Longlist, Shortlist & Winner
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The 2026 Giller Prize longlist is here, and I’m already adding a few titles to my reading list. Fourteen Canadian novels made this year’s list, selected from more than 140 books submitted by Canadian publishers.
The longlist includes everything from debut novels to books from some very familiar Canadian authors, with publishers ranging from major houses to independent presses. If you’re always looking for your next great Canadian fiction read, this is a list worth browsing.
2026 Giller Prize Longlist
The Winter Witch
by Jennifer Chevalier
The Golden Boy
by Patricia Finn
Wild People Quiet
by Tara Gereaux
The Unravelling of Ou
by Hollay Ghadery
Eliza Sunshine
by Michelle Good
Your Breath in Charcoal
by Nicholas Herring
The Small Ones
by Nazanine Hozar
The Novice of Holloway Hall
by Wayne Johnston
Daphnis and Chloe
by Colin McAdam
Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead
by Mai Nguyen
Riverwork
by Lisa Robertson
Good People
by Patmeena Sabit
At Sea in a Sieve
by Cordelia Strube
Dodge City
by Patrick deWitt
I’m especially interested in seeing which of these titles make it onto the shortlist. There are several authors here I already know, along with names that are completely new to me, which is one of my favourite things about following literary prize lists.
When is the 2026 Giller Prize shortlist announced?
The 2026 Giller Prize shortlist will be announced on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 9 a.m. ET.
Once the shortlist is announced, I’ll be watching to see which six books rise to the top of this year's longlist.
When is the 2026 Giller Prize winner announced?
The 2026 Giller Prize winner will be announced on November 16, 2026, during the official award ceremony in downtown Toronto.
The ceremony will air at 9 p.m. ET on CBC TV and CBC Gem, with the event also available on YouTube. CBC Radio and CBC Listen will also feature a special broadcast.
The winner will receive $100,000, while each finalist will receive $10,000.
Who is the 2026 Giller Prize yury?
For the first time in the prize's history, the 2026 longlist was selected by a pan-Canadian jury made up of independent booksellers representing all five regions of Canada.
The jury includes:
Dan MacDonald and Lori Cheverie — Bookmark, PEI/Nova Scotia/New Brunswick
Danielle McNally and Rupert McNally — Ben McNally Books, Toronto
Carmela Vedar — The Book Wardrobe, Mississauga
Sean Librud — Knowledge Bookstore, Brampton
Chris Hall — McNally Robinson Booksellers, Winnipeg/Saskatoon
Sarah Klassen — Mosaic Books, Kelowna
Jenn Baerg Steyn — Yellowknife Books, Yellowknife
I love that this year's selection process brought together booksellers from such a wide range of Canadian communities. It feels particularly fitting for a prize celebrating Canadian fiction, and it means this year's list comes with perspectives from across the country.
What can we expect from the 2026 Giller Prize books?
Looking through this year's longlist, one thing that stands out to me is the range of voices and publishers represented.
The 14 books come from writers from Newfoundland to British Columbia and span a huge range of settings, perspectives and time periods. The jury described the books as moving from the 17th century to the present and beyond, while touching on collective history, cultural identity, humour, compassion and openness.
There are debut novelists, bestselling authors, first-time Giller nominees and books from independent presses alongside titles from some of Canada's biggest publishers.
For me, that's one of the best reasons to follow literary prize lists like this one. They’re a great way to find books I might not otherwise have picked up.
2026 Giller Prize events
Readers will also have several opportunities to hear from the shortlisted authors through the Giller Prize's Between the Pages events.
The 2026 events will take place in:
Calgary: October 28
Ottawa: November 2
Halifax: November 4
Toronto: November 13
These events lead up to the November 16 award ceremony and offer a chance to hear more about the books and authors in contention.
What does the Giller Prize winner receive?
The 2026 Giller Prize winner will receive:
$100,000
A two-week writers' residency at the Leighton Artist Studios program at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
An invitation to appear as the keynote headliner at the San Miguel Writers' Conference in February 2027, including a Q&A and signing
The five other finalists will each receive $10,000.
About the Giller Prize
The Giller Prize was founded by Jack Rabinovitch in 1994 in honour of his wife, literary journalist Doris Giller. It has since become one of Canada's most prominent literary prizes for fiction.
Related reading
If you’re looking for more Canadian fiction to add to your TBR, I have a few more lists and guides you might enjoy:
