Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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Hello, I’m Bob, and Booker season is almost upon us again!

Here’s me attempting to make some predictions and talking about what is eligible!

Enjoy! I’d love to hear your thoughts and hopes!

I am very grateful to the volunteers who keep up the Eligible Books list on Goodreads: goodreads.com/list/show/227217.Booker_Prize_Eligible_2026

Contents:

00:00 Introduction and Eligibility
03:58 Former Winners
08:34 Former Longlistees
14:12 Big Hitters and Other Prize Nominees
22:10 Other Possibilities
25:39 My Hopefuls
36:13 End Notes

My Hopes for the Longlist:

Tahmima Anam- Uprising
Lucy Apps- Gloria Don’t Speak
Julian Barnes- Departure(s)
Woody Brown- Upward Bound
Madeline Cash- Lost Lambs
Saleem Haddad- Floodlines
Ashley Hickson-Lovence- About To Fall Apart
Daniyal Mueenuddin- This Is Where The Serpent Lives
Doireann Ní Ghriofa- Said The Dead
Derek Owusu- Borderline Fiction
Ann Patchett- Whistler
Elizabeth Strout- The Things We Never Say
Douglas Stuart- John of John