Twenty books, each published by a different publisher, have been chosen for the Pépites 2026 awards at the Salon du livre et de la presse jeunesse (Youth Book and Press Fair) in Seine-Saint-Denis. The event will run from November 25 to 30, 2026, in Montreuil. The selected books are divided into four categories and will be judged by juries of young people aged 8 to 18 years. A jury of nine professionals will award the Pépite d'Or, the top prize. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 25, the opening day of the fair. The selected books include illustrated books, fiction for younger children, novels for teenagers, and comics. Each category includes five titles. The books are published by publishers of different sizes, some specialized in children's literature and others generalist. The selection includes both new and established authors and illustrators. In the "Livre illustré" (Illustrated Book) category, the selected titles are: Le Grand Voyage des Bibis by Éponine Cottey (2042), L’Histoire de la cafetière by Anne Herbauts (Casterman), Jeanne et Nicodème by Bérengère Cournut and Tom Haugomat (Albin Michel Jeunesse), Mota by Julia Billet and Frédérique Bertrand (Esperluète), and Toute petite encyclopédie by Aurélien Farina (Thierry Magnier). In the "Fiction juniors" (Junior Fiction) category, the selected titles are: Les Pirates Poètes by Philippe Gauthier (éditions Théâtrales Jeunesse), Le Trousseau de clés by Georgia Makhlouf and Inbar Heller Algazi, translated into Arabic by Najla Jraissaty Khoury (Le Port a jauni), Mon rien préféré by Emmanuel Bourdier (Rageot), L’été où j’ai (enfin) eu chaud by Hervé Giraud and Aurélie Castex (Seuil Jeunesse), and Au pied des montagnes by Gwendoline Gauthier, Sarah Hebborn, and Fanny Dreyer (Versant Sud Jeunesse). In the "Fiction ados" (Teen Fiction) category, the selected titles are: Ariane & les galants by Chloé Thomas (L’École des loisirs), La Cascade sans issue by Guillaume Guéraud (Rouergue), Kingsland by Sophie Merceron (Espaces 34), Faire fleurir la foudre by Alexandre Chardin (Sarbacane), and Jeanne jusqu’à preuve du contraire by Julien Dufresne-Lamy (Actes Sud Jeunesse). In the "Bande dessinée" (Comics) category, the selected titles are: L’Été avec Olivia by Melhia Martin (Biscoto), Euy by Léon Maret (Dupuis), Jefferson fait de son mieux by Antoine Ronzon, based on Jean-Claude Mourlevat (Gallimard BD), Marly ou la neige en été by Emmanuel Lantam (éditions Réalistes), and Pousse by Mathieu Burniat and Mélanie Allag (Dargaud). The four Pépites in each category will be awarded by juries composed of young people aged 8 to 18. The Pépite d'Or will be awarded separately by a jury of critics and professionals in the book industry. The Pépites awarded by the children's juries are supported by the Groupe ADP Foundation, which has been committed to preventing illiteracy and school dropout for ten years. The Crédit Mutuel de la Dhuys, present in Montreuil, Noisy-le-Sec, and Villemomble, is a patron of the Pépite d'Or. The names of the winners will be announced on Wednesday, November 25, 2026, at the opening of the Salon du livre et de la presse jeunesse, which will continue until November 30. Last year, the Pépite d'Or was awarded to Adèle Maury for Béril en bataille, published by Sarbacane. Entry to the fair is free for children, adults, and professionals. However, an access ticket is still required and must be downloaded from their website.