The first list of novels nominated for the Prix Jean Giono 2026 has been revealed, with sixteen books selected by a jury that met on Friday, September 4, at Drouant, a historic venue in Paris associated with prestigious literary awards. The Prix Jean Giono honors the best "storyteller" and recognizes French-language works that emphasize imagination and narrative power. A second list of titles will be announced on October 7, with the final winner to be named on November 10. The prize comes with a cash award of 10,000 euros. Among the selected authors are Pierre Adrian, Rachida Brakni, François-Henri Désérable, Ananda Devi, Lilia Hassaine, and Thélyson Orélien, among others. The jury, led by Paule Constant, a member of the Académie Goncourt, chose works from literary debuts. Some of the authors are already prominent in the awards season, with Ananda Devi, Olivier Grondeau, Lilia Hassaine, and Jean-Yves Jouannais also appearing on the first list for the Goncourt 2026. Olivier Grondeau is also on the shortlist for the Prix du Premier Roman 2026, and Jean-Yves Jouannais previously won the Grand Prix SGDL for his novel Une forêt. The Prix Jean Giono, established in 1990, is named after the French author Jean Giono, known for works such as The Hussard on the Roof, Regain, and A King Without Entertainment. The award aims to highlight literature where storytelling and imagination are central. It is now supported by the Jan Michalski Foundation and is held annually at Drouant in Paris, a venue long associated with major literary awards like the Goncourt and Renaudot. The 2026 jury includes notable literary figures such as Metin Arditi, Tahar Ben Jelloun, David Foenkinos, Franz-Olivier Giesbert, Sylvie Giono, Robert Kopp, Emmanuelle Lambert, Vera Michalski, Étienne de Montety, and Marianne Payot. Last year, the Prix Jean Giono 2025 was awarded to Antoine Wauters for his novel Haute-Folie (Gallimard), who beat Pauline Dreyfus and her book A Bridge over the Seine (Grasset). The sixteen novels on the first list include Le Pays des étés by Pierre Adrian (Gallimard), La Part absente by Rachida Brakni (Stock), Le Palais by François-Henri Désérable (Gallimard), Chronique d'un royaume perdu by Ananda Devi (Grasset), Eden by Pierre Ducrozet (Actes Sud), La Promesse des chiens by Claudie Gallay (Le Cercle ouvert), Joseph dans la nuit by Olivier Grondeau (L'Iconoclaste), Totem by François-Régis de Guenyveau (Pauvert), Je by Lilia Hassaine (Gallimard), Une forêt by Jean-Yves Jouannais (Albin Michel), Le Septième Siffleur by Colin Niel (Seuil), La Rédemption by Jean-Noël Orengo (Grasset), Le Bal des foudroyés by Camille Pascal (Robert Laffont), Eugénie sous les bombes by Anne Percin (Buchet-Chastel), Grenouille by Sergueï Shikalov (Seuil), and Base Toundra by Olivier Truc (Métailié).