The Literary Prize for Musicians has revealed its 2026 shortlist, with nine books competing in three categories: Fiction, Essay-Document, and Youth. A fourth prize, the Public Prize, will be given to one of the fiction entries. The winners will be announced on November 13, 2026, at the Pavillon de la Sirène in Paris. Established by Alexandra Diaconu and run by the association Musiques en toutes lettres, the prize honors books that enhance the understanding, appreciation, or practice of classical music. In the Fiction category, the competing titles are Et les arbres se mirent à chanter by Gilbert Bordes (XO), Juste après Dieu, il y a papa by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt (Albin Michel), and Le désir dans la cage by Alissa Wenz (Les Avrils). In the Essay-Document category, the selected works are C’est du pipeau! by Stéphane Gendron (Actes Sud), Nicholas Angelich by Nathalie Krafft (Éditions Fugue), and Que la joie demeure. Vivre avec Bach by Claire-Marie Le Guay and Erik Orsenna (Albin Michel). For the Youth category, the competing titles are Le petit pianiste by Julie Annen and Morgane Raoux, illustrated by Thomas Baas, read by Guillaume Gallienne (Nathan), Le Petit Prince, le conte musical read by Denis Podalydès (Gallimard Jeunesse), and Le Conservatoire by Soufie Régani (Minedition). The jury for the Literary Prize for Musicians is renewed every year and includes individuals from music, literature, and research. This year, the jury features composer Fabien Cali, jazz saxophonist and composer Lisa Cat-Berro, writer Gavin’s Clemente-Ruiz, Thierry Fouquet, former director of the Opera of Bordeaux, violinist Elsa Grether, professor of neuropsychology Hervé Platel, violinist Irène Martin Giovaninetti, and singer Noëmi Waysfeld. The Public Prize is decided by a rotating group of readers from across France, including members of the Médiathèque de Sèvres. Last year’s winners included Dominique Fernandez for the Fiction prize with Un choix impossible (Grasset), Martin Mirabel for the Essay category with Antonín Dvořák (Actes Sud), and Anne Jouve and Jessie Magana for the Youth prize with Oum Kalthoum (Gallimard Jeunesse). The Public Prize was awarded to La Virtuose by Harriet Constable, translated by Cécile Arnaud (Albin Michel).