What to know

• A judging committee chaired by Mary Beard revealed 6 titles vying for the prize.S1
• If James wins for “The Disappearers” or Stuart for “John of John,” it would be a rare second win for an author in the history of the prestigious literary award.S2
• The 2026 Booker Prize shortlist honors the best fiction by writers of any nationality written in English published in the UK and/or Ireland.S3