Carnegie Medals longlists 2026 announced
The Carnegies, the UK’s longest running book awards for children and young people, have announced their longlists for 2026 with 19 books on each of the two lists. Independent publishers dominate both longlists, and this year’s Medal for Illustration longlist features 17 artists longlisted for the very first time. Identity is a stand-out theme across both Medals, explored through class, family, relationships, wild journeys and meaningful connections with nature. Retellings, folklore and history are also frequently used to reflect on the present, and it’s good to see funny books for all ages represented.
A total of 37 titles have been selected from 20 different publishers; 19 titles for the Carnegie Medal for Writing, and 19 for the Carnegie Medal for Illustration. One book, Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot Flynn (Penguin), features on both lists.
The 2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing longlist is (alphabetical by author surname):
Black Star by Kwame Alexander (Andersen Press)
Ghostlines by Katya Balen (Bloomsbury Publishing)
Stealing Happy by Brian Conaghan (Bloomsbury Publishing)
On the Wall by Anne Fine (Old Barn Books)
Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Eilish Fisher, illustrated by Dermot Flynn (Penguin)
Not Going to Plan by Tia Fisher (Bonnier Books UK)
Popcorn by Rob Harrell (Bonnier Books UK)
The Boy I Love by William Hussey (Andersen Press)
Songs for Ghosts by Clara Kumagai (Head of Zeus)
When It’s Your Turn for Midnight by Blessing Musariri (Head of Zeus)
Birdy Arbuthnot’s Year of ‘Yes!’ by Joanna Nadin (Fox & Ink Books)
Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Tim Miller (Walker Books)
Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien (HarperCollins Publishers)
Shrapnel Boys by Jenny Pearson (Usborne)
Handle With Care by Louisa Reid (Guppy Books)
Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds (Faber & Faber)
Birdie by J. P. Rose (Andersen Press)
Traumaland by Josh Silver (Oneworld Publications)
The Spick and the Span by Pil Van Martin (HarperCollins Publishers)
The 2026 Carnegie Medal for Illustration longlist is (alphabetical by illustrator surname):
Sleep Tight, Disgusting Blob by Huw Aaron (Penguin)
Be Back Soon by Jenny Bloomfield, written Anna Wilson (Andersen Press)
Coorie Doon by Jill Calder, written by Jackie Kay (Walker Books)
The Playdate by Clara Dackenberg, written by Uje Brandelius, translated by Nichola Smalley (Lantana)
The Endless Sea by Linh Dao, written by Chi Thai (Walker Books)
The Ordinary Life of Jacominus Gainsborough by Rébecca Dautremer, translated by Charis Ainslie (Post Wave Children’s Books)
Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel illustrated & adapted by Aimée de Jongh, written by Golding William (Faber & Faber)
Fia and the Last Snow Deer by Dermot Flynn, written by Eilish Fisher (Penguin)
The Faerie Isle by Dermot Flynn, written by Síne Quinn (Walker Books)
The Sleeper Train by Baljinder Kaur, written by Mick Jackson (Walker Books)
Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto (Pushkin Children’s Books)
Beanie the Bansheenie by Steve McCarthy, written by Eoin Colfer (Walker Books)
Freedom Braids by Oboh Moses, written by Monique Duncan (Lantana)
The Café at the Edge of the Woods by Mikey Please (HarperCollins Publishers)
The Paper Bridge by Seng Soun Ratanavanh, written by Joelle Veyrenc, translated by Katy Lockwood-Holmes (Floris Books)
Wiggling Words by Kate Rolfe (Macmillan)
Don’t Trust Fish by Dan Santat, written by Neil Sharpson (Andersen Press)
Higher Ground by Tull Suwannakit (New Frontier Publishing)
Good Golden Sun by Brendan Wenzel (Scallywag Press)
Stella Hine, Chair of Judges for The Carnegies 2026, said: ‘Hearty congratulations to the longlisted authors and illustrators. The judging panel debated fiercely, and we are delighted to present two wonderful, mould-breaking, and inclusive longlists offering rich opportunities for children and young people of all ages to engage in reading. An exciting and diverse range of language and illustration styles is represented, as well as an eclectic and vibrant mix of themes, viewpoints and settings. In this National Year of Reading 2026, these lists signpost excellent books, authors and illustrators offering a wide range of reading interests for established and new readers alike.’
The shortlists for the 2026 Carnegies will be announced during a panel event at London Book Fair beginning at 3.15pm on Tuesday 10 March. The winners’ ceremony will be streamed and hosted live at the Cambridge Theatre on Tuesday 23 June. The winners will each receive a specially commissioned golden medal and a £5,000 Colin Mears Award cash prize. The winners of the Shadowers’ Choice Medals – voted for and awarded by the children and young people – will also be presented at the ceremony. They will also receive a golden medal and £500 worth of books to donate to a library of their choice.
The 2026 Carnegie Awards are supported by three key sponsors: Scholastic, the official book supplier; ALCS; and Sora, the official digital partner. The longlists can be ordered and shortlists pre-ordered from Scholastic now. And the Sora student reading app will provide access to available longlisted titles and free access to all available shortlisted digital books for shadowing groups, enhancing inclusivity and fostering a love of reading among young people. First News are the official media partner.
