The 2026 Renaudot des Lycéens Prize has revealed its shortlist of five novels, chosen by a committee that met in Loudun on September 4, 2026. The selected books are Nos vies sauvages by Hemley Boum (Gallimard), Stay Free by Patrice Jean (Le Cherche Midi), Une histoire d'amours by Serge Joncour (Albin Michel), C'était ça ou mourir by Thélyson Orélien (Grasset), and Debout dans tes rêves by Abdellah Taïa (Julliard). These works will be read and discussed by around 400 high school students from fifteen schools in France and one in Romania. The students will vote to choose a winner on November 17, 2026. The Renaudot des Lycéens Prize was created in 1992 and originally involved only schools in Loudun. Over time, it has expanded to include students from other cities such as Poitiers, Limoges, Bordeaux, Orléans-Tours, Nantes, and even Romania. This year's edition marks the 100th anniversary of the main Renaudot Prize, which was established in 1926 and is one of France’s most prestigious literary awards. The five shortlisted novels explore a wide range of themes and settings. Nos vies sauvages portrays life in contemporary Cameroon, while Stay Free is set in 1980s Nantes. Une histoire d'amours tells a love story that spans two centuries. C'était ça ou mourir follows a teacher’s escape from gang violence in Haiti, and Debout dans tes rêves details the experiences of a Moroccan student in Paris. Each year, the Renaudot des Lycéens Prize gives high school students a direct role in choosing a literary work they believe deserves recognition. The event not only highlights emerging voices in French literature but also encourages young readers to engage deeply with diverse narratives and perspectives.