The Maison Rouge Biarritz Literary Prize has released the final shortlist for its 2026 edition, narrowing down to four books. The award will be presented on October 1st, 2027, at the Hôtel Café de Paris in Biarritz. A jury will select the winner from these four titles, which were chosen for the second and final shortlist. The prize aims to celebrate literature that is bold, innovative, and original, highlighting authors who push creative boundaries. The four books on the shortlist are Latex by Samuel Dock, published by Grasset; Midgar by Noham Secler, published by Gallimard; Things I Thought Were Lost by Clémentine Mélois, published by L'Arbalète/Gallimard; and Thus the Court Decides by Caroline Knecht, published by La Découverte. Each of these books was published in late 2026, with page counts and prices varying. The prize was created in 2019 by Céline and Guillaume Farré, with support from writers Frédéric Beigbeder and Frédéric Schiffter. It focuses on works that defy traditional categories and celebrate creativity and originality. The eighth edition of the prize began with a first shortlist of 10 books from the literary season. The jury, led by Hervé Le Tellier—who won the prestigious Goncourt Prize in 2020—includes a range of literary figures such as Eliette Abécassis, Raphael Enthoven, Dorothée Janin-Goldman, and others. Le Tellier also chaired the 2025 edition, which saw Victor Pouchet win the Maison Rouge Prize for his book Voyage Voyage (Gallimard). Each of the shortlisted books offers a unique perspective and narrative style. Latex is a 272-page novel priced at 22.00 €, while Midgar is a 624-page book costing 25.00 €. Things I Thought Were Lost is a shorter work at 176 pages and 19.00 €, and Thus the Court Decides runs to 208 pages at 19.50 €. The final selection will be announced in October 2027, marking the culmination of the literary year in Biarritz.