The Goncourt Academy has revealed the first shortlist of 16 novels competing for the 2026 Goncourt Prize, France’s most prestigious literary award. The prize will be announced on November 3 at the historic Drouant restaurant in Paris. This year’s list includes a mix of nine male and seven female authors, showcasing a wide range of voices and styles from the current literary landscape. Among the notable entries are works by Anne Godard (Nous aussi), Lilia Hassaine (Je), and Ananda Devi (Chronique d’un royaume perdu). The list also features two debut novelists: Thélyson Orélien, a Haitian writer living in Canada, and Olivier Grondeau. Established authors such as Philippe Jaenada (L'inconnue du Quai de Javel), Yannick Haenel (La solitude des professeurs est infinie), and Olivier Rolin (La Guerre éternelle) are also represented. Publishing house Gallimard leads the way with four of the 16 selected novels, while Grasset has two entries on the list. The jury will narrow the field to eight books on October 6 and then to four finalists on October 27. The final winner will be announced on November 3 and will receive a symbolic prize of ten euros, a tradition that underscores the award’s cultural significance over its financial value. Last year’s winner, Laurent Mauvignier for La maison vide, sold over 630,000 copies, highlighting the commercial impact of the award. Other notable titles on the shortlist include Minotaure by Boris Bergmann, Faire la peau by Louise Chennevière, C’était ça ou mourir by Thélyson Orélien, De l'autre côté du lac by Sylvain Prudhomme, and La Guerre éternelle by Olivier Rolin. The Goncourt Academy, which selects the shortlist and eventually the winner, has also experienced a significant loss with the death of Didier Decoin, its former president, on August 5. Decoin was a prominent figure in French literary life, and his passing marks a moment of reflection for the institution.