Carnegie Medal 2026 winners announced
In the UK, the winners of this year’s Carnegie Medal for Writing, Carnegie Medal for Illustration and Shadowers’ Choice Medals have been announced.
Beth O’Brien won both the Carnegie Medal for Writing and the Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Writing for her feminist reimagining of Red Riding Hood, Wolf Siren (HarperCollins Children’s Books).
Chair of Judges Stella Hine said, “Wolf Siren is a wonderful fairy tale for our times where hope triumphs over despair and justice over apathy. Red is a thoroughly traditional and yet modern heroine whose journey includes timeless messages for all, young and old. The environmental messages are clear, the language is sublime, and the rich content covering many contemporary themes invites reflection.”
Kate Rolfe won the Carnegie Medal for Illustration for Wiggling Words (Two Hoots), described as a “deeply personal yet universal” exploration that offers insight into what reading is like for people with dyslexia.
Hine said, “Wiggling Words is a joyous and deceptively simple insight into the world of a dyslexic reader. Using typography and their signature cyanotype technique, Kate Rolfe not only affords the dyslexic reader a voice but also invites the non-dyslexic reader into this unique world. We accompany the young protagonist on their journey from frustration to empowerment.”
The winner of the Carnegie Shadowers’ Choice Medal for Illustration was Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel, illustrated and adapted by Aimée de Jongh, written by William Golding (Faber & Faber). Children and young people voting for the Shadowers’ Choice Medal said the winning book included “some of the most mind-blowing and jaw-dropping illustrations” they had ever seen and called it “a true masterpiece”. One reader praised how “the illustrations add a new layer of depth and emotion to the story”, with many others confirming that the graphic novel format helped them understand the story.
The winners of the Carnegie Medals, selected from a shortlist announced in March, receive a medal and a £5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize. The winners of the Shadowers’ Choice Medals receive a medal and £500 worth of books to donate to a library of their choice.
Full judges’ reports and author biographies are available on the Carnegies website.
Category: International awards International news
