The Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist Announcement
Get a glimpse behind the judging room doors of the world’s most significant award for a single work of fiction, with the panel of esteemed judges.
Join the judges of the Booker Prize 2026 – Chair Mary Beard and fellow panellists Raymond Antrobus, Jarvis Cocker, Rebecca Liu and Patricia Lockwood – as they announce the shortlist for this year’s prize live on stage.
For the second year running, the Booker Prize shortlist is announced live on stage at a public event at the Southbank Centre.
This year’s judges, in conversation with Booker Prize Foundation Chief Executive Gaby Wood, reveal what it is like to judge the Booker and share why each book earned its place on the Booker Prize 2026 shortlist.
Need to know
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
22 Sep 2026, 7.30pm
Run time
1 hour and 15 minutes (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
from £22 + £4 booking fee
Ticket prices may be adjusted without notice to reflect demand.
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Access
Accessible events
This event is Speech-to-Text transcribed (STT).
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For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
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Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
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We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
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From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.