The 2026 Women's Prize for Non‑Fiction longlist — Readings Books

The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction longlist has been announced! The prize is one of the UK's most prestigious, celebrating excellence, originality and accessibility in nonfiction written by women.

The longlist honours sixteen books – including seven debuts – that span memoir, politics, science, history and art. Thangam Debbonaire, Chair of Judges, said: 'The books on this hopeful longlist are rigorous and researched, lyrical and flowing … The voices of these sixteen remarkable women need to be heard – loud and clear.'

Discover the full list below, and keep an eye on our blog for the shortlist, to be announced in March!


Cover image for Daughters of the Bamboo Grove

Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick

The Finest Hotel in Kabul by Lyse Doucet

Don’t Let it Break You, Honey by Jenny Evans (stock expected in July)

Art Cure by Daisy Fancourt

With the Law on Our Side by Lady Hale

To Be Young, Gifted and Black by Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason

Artists, Siblings, Visionaries by Judith Mackrell (stock expected in April)

Ask Me How It Works by Deepa Paul

Cover image for Death of an Ordinary Man

Death of an Ordinary Man by Sarah Perry

The Genius of Trees by Harriet Rix

Hotel Exile by Jane Rogoyska (stock expected in March)

Mother Mary Comes To Me by Arundhati Roy

Finding Albion by Zakia Sewell (stock expected in in June)

To Exist As I Am by Grace Spence Green (stock expected in June)

Nation of Strangers by Ece Temelkuran (stock expected in March)

Indignity by Lea Ypi


The 2026 shortlist of six books will be announced on Wednesday 25 March, with the winner to be awarded in London on Thursday 11 June.

Find out more about the prize here.