September 8, 2026 (Toronto, Ontario) – Fourteen remarkable Canadian authors have been named to the 2026 Giller Prize longlist. These exceptional novels were chosen from more than 140 works of fiction submitted by publishers across Canada.

The longlist for the 2026 Giller Prize is:

• Jennifer Chevalier for her novel The Winter Witch, published by Simon & Schuster Canada
• Patrick deWitt for his novel Dodge City, published by House of Anansi Press
• Patricia Finn for her novel The Golden Boy, published by HarperCollins Publishers Ltd.
• Tara Gereaux for her novel Wild People Quiet, published by Scribner Canada
• Hollay Ghadery for her novel The Unravelling of Ou, published by Palimpsest Press
• Michelle Good for her novel Eliza Sunshine, published by Random House Canada
• Nicholas Herring for his novel Your Breath in Charcoal, published by Goose Lane Editions
• Nazanine Hozar for her novel The Small Ones, published by Knopf Canada
• Wayne Johnston for his novel The Novice of Holloway Hall, published by Knopf Canada
• Colin McAdam for his novel Daphnis and Chloe, published by Biblioasis
• Mai Nguyen for her novel Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead, published by Simon & Schuster Canada
• Lisa Robertson for her novel Riverwork, published by Coach House Books
• Patmeena Sabit for her novel Good People, published by Crown
• Cordelia Strube for her novel At Sea in a Sieve, published by ECW Press

For the first time in prize history, the longlist was selected by a pan-Canadian jury panel of independent booksellers representing all five regions of Canada.

Founded in Prince Edward Island in 1972 (with locations in Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick), Bookmark is represented on the jury by Dan MacDonald and Lori Cheverie.

From Ben McNally Books, a beloved, family-run Toronto bookstore opened in 2007, Danielle McNally and Rupert McNally join Dan and Lori on the jury.

​The Book Wardrobe, Mississauga, Ontario’s premier independent bookseller since 2017, is represented by owner and operator Carmela Vedar.

​From Knowledge Bookstore, a Black-owned bookstore and cultural space in Brampton, Ontario, Sean Librud (founder and cultural steward) joins this year’s jury.

​McNally Robinson Booksellers, with shops in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is represented by Chris Hall, co-owner and 30-year bookselling veteran.

​Representing Mosaic Books (Kelowna, British Columbia) is Sarah Klassen, head curator, buyer and book club aficionado.

​Rounding out the jury from Yellowknife Books (Yellowknife, Northwest Territories) is Jenn Baerg Steyn, owner and former spiritual health practitioner.

To read more about this fantastic panel, please visit gillerprize.ca/jury.

Rakuten Kobo provided each of the jury members with a Kobo Elipsa 2E eReader to support them on their reading journey.

Of the longlist, the jury wrote:

“This year’s Giller Prize longlist was chosen by a jury of independent Canadian booksellers: professional readers who, like the writers whose work they selected, live and work in communities across Canada. These stories take place in both rural hamlets and big cities; from the shores of Prince Edward Island to the expanse of the Prairies to the landscapes of British Columbia; from the seventeenth century to the present day – and beyond our borders and conventional notions of time and space. These authors grapple with our collective history with humour, openness, and compassion, fearlessly chronicling our challenges, our tragedies and our triumphs. Canada is a collection of people and places such as these. And at a time when our nation’s cultural identity is being tested, it is more important than ever to write, read, and reflect on our stories. This longlist is an extraordinary collection from which Canadians can discover themselves.”

“This fourteen-title longlist speaks to the extraordinary richness and calibre of Canadian fiction published this year. It features a host of independent Canadian presses, debut novelists, bestsellers and first-time nominees. The authors on this year’s longlist represent the whole of this country, with writers from Newfoundland to British Columbia and everywhere in between. Congratulations to this year’s jury for selecting such a bold, wildly original and dynamic 2026 longlist.”

– Elana Rabinovitch, Executive Director, Giller Prize

The 2026 Giller Prize shortlist will be announced on Monday, October 5, 2026, at 9 a.m. ET.

Between the Pages: An Intimate Evening with the Giller Prize Finalists will take audiences across Canada into the minds and creative lives of the shortlisted authors. This fall, Between the Pages will take place in the following cities and venues:

• Calgary (Calgary Central Library) – Wednesday, October 28
• Ottawa (Venue TBC) – Monday, November 2
• Halifax (Halifax Central Library) – Wednesday, November 4
• Toronto (Isabel Bader Theatre) – Friday, November 13

For more information, including when tickets will be available, please visit: gillerprize.ca/btp.

The ceremony to honour the finalists and announce a winner will be held on November 16, 2026, in downtown Toronto.

Watch the 2026 Giller Prize on Monday, November 16, at 9 p.m. (11:30 p.m. AT, 12 a.m. NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem. The program will also be available on CBC’s YouTube channel, and listeners can tune into a broadcast special on CBC Radio and CBC Listen.

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The winner of the 2026 Giller Prize will once again receive a two-week writers’ residency in the Leighton Artist Studios program at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity. This residency includes the self-directed use of a private studio in a forested area of campus, access to Banff Centre facilities including the Paul D. Fleck Library and Archives, and access to Banff Centre talks, events, performances, and networking opportunities with other arts programs taking place during the residency.

For the eighth year in a row, the 2026 Giller Prize winner will be honoured by the San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival in Mexico. Founded in 2006, the San Miguel Writers’ Conference is a premier international literary event set in the vibrant cultural heart of Mexico. The winner will be featured as one of the Conference’s eight keynote headliners, and the presentation will be followed by a Q&A period with the audience and book signing. This event will take place on February 14, 2027 from 4-5 PM local time.

Continuing our three-year partnership with the Mantella Corporation, the Giller Mantella Scholarship awards $10,000 to three Black, Indigenous, or racialized students across Canada graduating high school and interested in continued education in creative writing and literature. Applications for 2027 will open in March.

About the Prize
Founded by Jack Rabinovitch in 1994, the Giller Prize is Canada’s leading and most influential literary prize for fiction. The Giller Effect has been recognized industry-wide as one of the top drivers of book sales in Canada. The Giller Prize awards $100,000 annually to the author of the best Canadian novel, graphic novel or short story collection published in English, and $10,000 to each of the finalists. The award is named in honour of Jack Rabinovitch’s wife, the late literary journalist, Doris Giller.

About CBC/Radio-Canada
CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada’s national public broadcaster. Through our mandate to inform, enlighten and entertain, we play a central role in strengthening Canadian culture. As Canada’s trusted news source, we offer a uniquely Canadian perspective on news, current affairs and world affairs. Our distinctively homegrown entertainment and sports programming draws audiences from across the country. Deeply rooted in communities, CBC/Radio-Canada offers diverse content in English, French and eight Indigenous languages: Dëne Sųłıné, Dene Kǝdǝ́, Dene Zhatıé, Eastern Cree, Dinjii Zhuʼ Ginjik, Inuktitut, Inuvialuktun and Tłı̨chǫ. We also deliver content in Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, Punjabi and Tagalog, as well as both official languages, through Radio Canada International (RCI). We are leading the transformation to meet the needs of Canadians in a digital world.

About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Rakuten Kobo Inc. is the world’s digital bookseller created by and for book lovers. Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten Group, Inc. and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo’s millions of worldwide users can read anytime, anywhere, and on any device. With a mission to make reading lives better for all, Rakuten Kobo connects readers to stories using thoughtful and personalized curation of eBooks and audiobooks, and the best dedicated eReaders and apps for reading. With the singular focus of making reading lives the best they can be, Kobo’s open platform allows people to fit reading into more moments in their busy lives.

About Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity
Founded in 1933, Banff Centre is a post-secondary institution built upon an extraordinary legacy of excellence in artistic and leadership development. What started as a single course in drama has grown to become a global organization leading in arts, culture, and creative decision-making across dozens of disciplines, from the fine arts to Indigenous Wise Practices. From our home in the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity aims to move everyone who attends our campus – artists, leaders, thinkers, and audiences – to unleash their creative potential and realize their unique contribution to build an innovative, inspiring future through education, performances, convenings, and public outreach.

About Mantella Corporation
Mantella Corporation was established in 1946 and remains one of the largest Canadian privately held family-owned real estate and land development companies. Mantella Corporation manages a prestigious portfolio of commercial and industrial buildings, as well as prime development properties in Ontario. We focus on community, supporting over 30 diverse charitable organizations aiding children, hospitals, youth underserved communities, education, conservation of wildlife and more. We are committed to giving back through significant dedicated volunteer efforts, donations, sponsorships and grants.

About the San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival
Founded 22 years ago, the San Miguel Writers’ Conference & Literary Festival is one of the most celebrated literary gatherings across North America. Based in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, this annual event brings together writers, readers, and thinkers from around the world, offering a dynamic program of workshops, keynotes, and panel discussions. Dedicated to fostering a vibrant, inclusive community of voices, the conference supports emerging and established writers alike, with a special commitment to our Spanish-speaking scholarship program for Mexican students. Through its innovative programming, cross-cultural exchange, and support for the literary arts, the San Miguel Writers’ Conference continues to inspire creativity, dialogue, and literary excellence.

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Media Inquiries:
Rosemary Thompson
Communications Advisor
Giller Foundation
rosemary@artfulstrategies.ca
(613) 240-6739