The Prix Goncourt, one of the most prestigious literary awards in the French-speaking world, has released its initial shortlist of 16 novels, marking the start of the award season. The Goncourt Academy, which is currently led by Philippe Claudel, announced the list in memory of Didier Decoin, who recently passed away. The shortlist includes works by a range of authors, such as Boris Bergmann's Minotaure and Ananda Devi's Chronique d'un royaume perdu. However, one novel, C'était ça ou mourir by Thélyson Orélien, was removed from the list on September 25 due to concerns about the use of artificial intelligence in its creation. The Goncourt Academy includes notable literary figures such as Pascal Bruckner, Tahar Ben Jelloun, and Christine Angot, who was elected in March 2024 after Patrick Rambaud stepped down for health reasons. Over the coming months, the shortlist will be further narrowed down. A second shortlist will be announced on October 6, followed by a third on October 27, which will determine the four finalists. The winner will be revealed on November 3 at the Drouant restaurant in Paris. This year's award is highly anticipated, especially given the challenges faced by bookstores, which have seen a decline in sales. The Prix Goncourt remains a symbol of literary success, often leading to increased sales for the winning novel. In a separate initiative, 600 detainees will participate in the selection process for the 2026 Goncourt Prize. This marks the fifth edition of the Goncourt Prize for detainees, which was created by the National Center for the Book (CNL) and the Ministry of Justice, with the support of the Goncourt Academy. The same 16 novels that are in contention for the traditional Prix Goncourt will be distributed to 45 penal institutions across France, where detainees will read, discuss, and select their preferred winner. The launch of this edition will take place on September 3 at the central prison in Poissy, with a meeting between the academian Paule Constant and the detainees. The books will then be sent to institutions from Saint-Martin-de-Ré to Nouméa, including places like Fleury-Mérogis, Arles, Nantes, and Lannemezan. Between October 12 and November 13, participants will have the opportunity to meet and question the authors whose works are in contention. Each institution will choose three books, and after a series of interregional deliberations, the final decision will be made at the CNL on December 15, 2026. The winner will be announced at the end of this process, which allows for a more extended and deliberative selection process compared to the traditional Prix Goncourt.