Women's Prize for Non-Fiction 2026 Longlist Announced

[Image Credit: womensprize.com]

The longlist for the 2026 edition of the Women's Prize for Non-Fiction has been officially unveiled, spotlighting 16 exceptional works that explore history, memoir, politics, science and culture. Celebrating outstanding narrative non-fiction by women, the prize continues to champion bold storytelling, rigorous research and urgent contemporary voices, offering readers a diverse and thought-provoking selection of books that reflect the complexities of our world today.

The 2026 judging panel is chaired by Thangam Debbonaire — CEO of the UK Opera Association, cultural strategist and former MP — and brings together a distinguished group of voices from across disciplines. She is joined by engineer, author and broadcaster Roma Agrawal; wellbeing entrepreneur Nicola Elliott; novelist and memoirist Nina Stibbe; and Crown Court judge and thriller writer Nicola Williams. Together, the panel will select a shortlist of six to be announced on 25 March 2026, before revealing the overall winner on 11 June 2026 at the Women’s Prize Trust’s summer party in Bedford Square Gardens, London. Sponsored by Findmypast, the winner will receive £30,000 and a limited-edition artwork titled ‘Charlotte’, sculpted by Ann Christopher and gifted by the Charlotte Aitken Trust.

From Overlooked to Celebrated: The Birth of a Vital Literary Award

The prize was established to address the persistent gender imbalance in non-fiction publishing, where books by women have historically received less recognition, fewer reviews and lower visibility in major literary awards. Building on the legacy of the Women's Prize for Fiction, the non-fiction award was launched to celebrate ambitious, original and rigorously researched works by women across genres such as history, science, politics, memoir and current affairs. Its mission is not only to honour excellence but also to amplify women’s authoritative voices in shaping public discourse and expanding the scope of narrative non-fiction.

The Longlisted titles are:

1. Daughters of the Bamboo Grove: China’s Stolen Children and a Story of Separated Twins by Barbara Demick

2. The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People’s History of Afghanistan by Lyse Doucet

3. Don’t Let It Break You, Honey: A Memoir About Saving Yourself by Jenny Evans

4. Art Cure: The Science of How the Arts Transform Our Health by Daisy Fancourt

5. With the Law on Our Side: How the Law Works for Everyone and How We Can Make It Work Better by Lady Hale

6. To Be Young, Gifted and Black: Creativity and Race in the 21st Century by Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason

7. Artists, Siblings, Visionaries: The Lives and Loves of Gwen and Augustus John by Judith Mackrell

8. Ask Me How It Works: Love in an Open Marriage by Deepa Paul

9. Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry

10. The Genius of Trees: How Trees Mastered the Elements and Shaped the World by Harriet Rix

11. Hotel Exile: Paris in the Shadow of War by Jane Rogoyska

12. Mother Mary Comes to Me by Arundhati Roy

13. Finding Albion: Myth, Folklore and the Quest for a Hidden Britain by Zakia Sewell

14. To Exist As I Am: A Doctor’s Notes on Recovery and Radical Acceptance by Grace Spence Green

15. Nation of Strangers: Rebuilding Home in the 21st Century by Ece Temelkuran

16. Indignity: A Life Reimagined by Lea Ypi

As the longlisted titles begin to spark conversation among readers and critics alike, the 2026 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction once again underscores the depth, range and authority of women’s writing today. With themes spanning identity, history, justice, science and personal transformation, this year’s selection not only celebrates literary excellence but also reaffirms the prize’s mission to amplify voices shaping contemporary thought. The shortlist announcement will be keenly anticipated, as these powerful works continue to inform, challenge and inspire.