Three authors with ties to University of Oxford and the city of Oxford have been named on the prestigious 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist, which judges have described as a “treasure trove” exploring “the messy business of being human.”
The internationally recognised prize — sponsored by Audible and Baileys — celebrates outstanding fiction written by women and is widely regarded as one of the world’s leading literary awards.
This year’s longlist was announced ahead of International Women’s Day and highlights the organisation’s belief that women’s voices can inspire meaningful social change.
Among the sixteen authors selected are three with Oxford connections: Oxford-born writer Rozie Kelly, alongside Oxford alumni Marcia Hutchinson and Kit de Waal.
Kelly’s debut novel Kingfisher explores the complicated relationship between two writers, weaving themes of grief, power and desire in a lyrical meditation on identity, love and human vulnerability.
Hutchinson’s The Mercy Step, her first solo novel, offers a poignant and sharply observed portrait of a young girl growing up in 1960s Bradford. Through the lens of childhood innocence, the book tackles themes including religion, racism and domestic violence while capturing the resilience of youth.
Meanwhile, The Best of Everything by de Waal tells the story of a working-class Caribbean woman living in Birmingham between the 1970s and 1990s, celebrating the power of found family and kindness in the face of grief and loneliness.
The longlist for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Fiction:
The 2026 longlist includes sixteen titles in total, featuring seven debut novels and nine books from independent publishers.
Among the nominated works are:
- Gloria Don’t Speak by Lucy Apps
- Paradiso 17 by Hannah Lillith Assadi
- Moderation by Elaine Castillo
- Flashlight by Susan Choi
- Dominion by Addie E. Citchens
- The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine
- The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
- The Mercy Step by Marcia Hutchinson
- The Others by Sheena Kalayil
- Kingfisher by Rozie Kelly
- Heart the Lover by Lily King
- Audition by Katie Kitamura
- A Guardian and a Thief by Megha Majumdar
- Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
- The Best of Everything by Kit de Waal
- A Beast Slinks Towards Beijing by Alice Evelyn Yang
Chair of judges Julia Gillard praised the diversity and ambition of the selected books. She said:
“Across a longlist that is international in both scope and setting, these sixteen books masterfully demonstrate the power of fiction to examine the messy business of being human.”
“Spotlighting both emerging novelists and small, independent publishers, my fellow judges and I are proud to share a list that so wonderfully reflects the thriving creativity of contemporary women authors.”
This year’s longlisted titles explore themes ranging from climate change and artificial intelligence to migration, identity and the search for belonging.
Several books explore the experience of displacement and political upheaval, with stories set in locations spanning Palestine, Kuwait, Italy, Japan, New York and Berlin. Others examine family relationships across generations, the search for connection in modern society, and the role of storytelling itself.
According to Claire Shanahan, Executive Director of the Women’s Prize Trust, the prize continues to play a vital role in amplifying women’s voices in literature. She said:
“Across three decades, the Women’s Prize for Fiction has transformed the literary landscape – elevating women’s writing, empowering new voices, and bringing together a global community of readers.”
“At the Women’s Prize Trust, our mission remains unchanged: to help build a future where every woman’s story has a place.”
The judging panel — which also includes Mona Arshi, Salma El-Wardany, Cariad Lloyd and Annie Macmanus — will now narrow the list down to six shortlisted titles.
Key upcoming dates include:
- The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction shortlist announcement on 25 March
- The Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist announcement on 22 April
- The winners of both prizes revealed on 11 June
The winning author will receive a £30,000 prize along with a bronze statuette known as “Bessie,” created by artist Grizel Niven.
Read more: Oxford alumni nominated for 2026 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction longlist
Previous winners of the prize include Barbara Kingsolver, Maggie O’Farrell, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Zadie Smith.
