Six writers have been selected for this year’s Goldsmiths Prize, competing for the £10,000 award designed to honour fiction that “breaks the mould or extends the possibilities of the novel form.”
Among those shortlisted are Missouri Williams, China Miéville, and Polly Barton. The prize continues to recognise works that push the boundaries of the genre.
Readers can explore the full shortlist for the 2026 Goldsmiths Prize at guardianbookshop.com.
Polly Barton deserves more recognition. Her latest novel was genuinely thrilling and formally inventive.
Is £10,000 really enough to make a dent for experimental writers? Seems low compared to other major UK prizes.
China Miéville on the shortlist is a huge win. I can’t wait to see who else made the cut.
Finally, a prize that actually rewards boundary-pushing work instead of safe literary traditions.