Carnegie Medal 2026 shortlists released

In the UK, the shortlists for this year’s Carnegie Medal for Writing and the Carnegie Medal for Illustration have been announced.

The shortlisted titles in each category are:

The 2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing

• Birdie (JP Rose, Andersen Press)
• The Boy I Love (William Hussey, Andersen Press)
• Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody (Patrick Ness, illus by Tim Miller, Walker Books)
• Ghostlines (Katya Balen, Bloomsbury Children’s)
• Not Going to Plan (Tia Fisher, Hotkey)
• Popcorn (Rob Harrell, Piccadilly)
• Twenty-Four Seconds from Now (Jason Reynolds, Faber)
• Wolf Siren (Beth O’Brien, HarperCollins Children’s).

The 2026 Carnegie Medal for Illustration 

• The Endless Sea (illus by Linh Dao, written by Chi Thai, Walker Studio)
• Freedom Braids (illus by Oboh Moses, written by Monique Duncan, Lantana)
• Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel (illus & adapted by Aimée de Jongh, written by William Golding, Faber)
• The Paper Bridge (illus by Seng Soun Ratanavanh, written by Joelle Veyrenc, trans by Katy Lockwood-Holmes, Floris Books)
• The Playdate (illus by Clara Dackenberg, written by Uje Brandelius, trans by Nichola Smalley, Penguin General)
• The Sleeper Train (illus by Baljinder Kaur, written by Mick Jackson, Walker Books)
• Wiggling Words (Kate Rolfe, Two Hoots)
• Wildful (Kengo Kurimoto, Pushkin Children’s).

Chair of judges Stella Hine said, “The lists meet young readers where they are, asking searching questions about identity, belonging, community and how we respond as life changes around us. These shortlists offer a wide scope of everyday life including friendship, wellbeing, courage, consent, respectful relationships, and empathy in the face of prejudice. Innovation in form is particularly exciting with inventive verse and chronology, subversive storytelling and reimagined folklore, alongside more traditional narratives.”

Full judges reports and author biographies have been published on the Carnegies website.

Category: International awards International news