Here are the winners of the 2026 Kirkus Prize.

In a ceremony held in New York City, Kirkus Reviews announced the winners of the 13th annual Kirkus Prize, a prestigious award honoring books of exceptional merit in three categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, and Young Readers' Literature. The winners were chosen from a pool of books that had received a Kirkus star over the past year, numbering 3,584 fiction titles, 2,806 nonfiction titles, and 3,936 young readers' titles.

According to Kirkus Reviews editor-in-chief Tom Beer, "Readers can rejoice over the winners of this year's Kirkus Prize; these are remarkably accomplished works of fiction and nonfiction that nevertheless wear their accomplishments lightly. Above all, they are unforgettable books that will engage and transform all who enter their pages."

In the Fiction category, the winner is Tayari Jones for her book "Kin" published by Alfred A. Knopf. The story revolves around two "cradle friends," Niecy and Annie, who grow up in small-town Louisiana during the 1950s with their motherless lives. The novel explores their contrasting paths, highlighting social injustices in a language that is intimate, conversational, and musical.

Other finalists in this category include Daniyal Mueenuddin for "This Is Where the Serpent Lives," Brenda Navarro (translated by Megan McDowell) for "Eating Ashes," Julie Orringer for "Luna, Phoenix, Queen," Douglas Stuart for "John of John," and Colson Whitehead for "Cool Machine." The jurors for the Fiction category are Kimberly Brock, Karen R. Long, and Laurie Muchnick.

For Nonfiction, the winner is Pamela Colloff for her book "Catch the Devil: A True Story of Murder, Deception, and Injustice on the Gulf Coast," also published by Knopf. The book examines the case of Jim Dailey, who was wrongfully convicted for the brutal murder of a 14-year-old girl in 1987. Colloff reveals that a cunning jailhouse snitch's testimony led to Dailey's conviction, and she also uncovers the flaws in the criminal justice system that allowed such injustices to occur.

Other finalists in this category are Ada Ferrer for "Keeper of My Kin," Patrick Radden Keefe for "London Falling," Loubna Mrie for "Defiance," Gisèle Pelicot with Judith Perrignon (translated by Natasha Lehrer & Ruth Diver) for "A Hymn to Life," and Michael Pollan for "A World Appears." The jurors for the Nonfiction category are Bonnie Tsui, Nora Krug, and John McMurtrie.

Lastly, in the Young Readers' Literature category, the winner is Elizabeth Acevedo for her book "Anger Is Only a Shadow," published by Quill Tree Books/HarperCollins. The book tells the story of Liliana, a teenager awaiting trial in her ankle monitor, as she navigates the complexities of growing up and her strained relationship with her brother, Aldwin, who is struggling with his mental health.

Acevedo's vivid, compassionate characters resonate with readers, making their story unforgettable. Other finalists in this category are Julie Leung and Angie Kang for "Navigating Night," Karthika Naïr and Joëlle Jolivet for "Electric Birds of Pothakudi," Matthew Fox for "The Lovely Dark," Daniel Nayeri for "This Is a Door," and Blessing Musaruri for "When It's Your Turn for Midnight."

The jurors for the Young Readers' Literature category are Sarah Park Dahlen, Leah Johnson, and Mahnaz Dar and Laura Simeon.