British authors Kit de Waal and Lucy Apps are among the writers long-listed for the 2026 Women’s prize for Fiction.

Described by Julia Gillard, Australia’s former prime minister and chair of judges, this year’s selection of 16 novels is a “treasure trove” that explores “the messy business of being human”.

Also in contention for the £30,000 prize are Katie Kitamura for her tense story of an aging actor in Audition, and Susan Choi for the family saga in her sixth novel Flashlight, which transports the reader from Indiana to North Korea. Both titles also featured on last year’s Booker Prize shortlist.

De Waal, who chaired the judging panel for the Women’s prize last year, was selected for The Best of Everything, the tenderly told tale of Paulette, a Caribbean mother in mourning.

Meanwhile, Apps’s debut novel Gloria Don’t Speak follows Gloria, a teenager with a learning disability whose life is turned upside down after an act of violence.

In an announcement on Wednesday (4 March), Gillard called the longlist “international in both scope and setting”.

“These sixteen books masterfully demonstrate the power of fiction to examine the messy business of being human,” she said.

“From climate change to artificial intelligence, they navigate the issues of our time with urgency and purpose, they immerse us in environments and experiences that are sometimes like our own, but more often are radically different, and they explore identities and perspectives that are often ignored or forgotten, amidst those inherently universal and recognisable.”

Several of the novels on the longlist tackle displacement due to conflict and political upheaval. Hannah Lillith Assadi’s novel Paradiso 17 presents a portrait of a man in exile as he navigates loss and life.

Noting the longlist’s emphasis on emerging novelists and small, independent publishers, Gillard said: “My fellow judges and I are proud to share a list that so wonderfully reflects the thriving creativity of contemporary women authors, as well as the crucial work of the Women’s Prize Trust in bringing unheard voices to the fore.

“It is truly a treasure trove for readers, and we offer our heartfelt congratulations to all the nominated writers.”

Alongside Gillard on this year’s judging panel are poet, novelist and essayist Mona Arshi, author, presenter, poet and speaker Salma El-Wardany, writer and comedian Cariad Llloyd, and author and broadcaster Annie Macmanus.

The longlist of 16 will be whittled down to a shortlist of six, to be announced on 22 April 2026. The winner will be revealed at a London ceremony on 11 June 2026 alongside the winner of its sister award, the Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction.

The winner of the award will receive £30,000 along with a statuette known as the “Bessie” created and donated by the late artist Grizel Niven.

Previous recipients include Yael van der Wouden (2025), Barbara Kingsolder (2023, 2010), Maggie O’Farrell (2020), Kamila Shamsie (2018), Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (2007), Zadie Smith (2006), and Ann Patchett (2002).

See the full long-list below: