The Carnegies, the UK’s longest‑running and best‑loved book awards for children and young people, have announced their 2026 longlists for writing and illustration. Identity is a strong theme across both awards, explored through family, class, relationships, journeys and nature. Retellings, folklore, history and a welcome collection of funny books also feature.
The 2026 Carnegie Medal for Writing shortlist is:
- Ghostlines by Katya Balen (Bloomsbury Publishing)
- Not Going to Plan by Tia Fisher (Bonnier Books UK)
- Popcorn by Rob Harrell (Bonnier Books UK)
- The Boy I Love by William Hussey (Andersen Press)
- Chronicles of a Lizard Nobody by Patrick Ness, illustrated by Tim Miller (Walker Books)
- Wolf Siren by Beth O’Brien (HarperCollins Publishers)
- Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds (Faber & Faber)
- Birdie by J. P. Rose (Andersen Press)
The 2026 Carnegie Medal for Illustration shortlist is:
- The Playdate by Clara Dackenberg, written by Uje Brandelius, translated by Nichola Smalley (Lantana)
- The Endless Sea by Linh Dao, written by Chi Thai (Walker Books)
- Lord of the Flies: The Graphic Novel illustrated & adapted by Aimée de Jongh, written by Golding William (Faber & Faber)
- The Sleeper Train by Baljinder Kaur, written by Mick Jackson (Walker Books)
- Wildful by Kengo Kurimoto (Pushkin Children’s Books)
- Freedom Braids by Oboh Moses, written by Monique Duncan (Lantana)
- The Paper Bridge by Seng Soun Ratanavanh, written by Joelle Veyrenc, translated by Katy Lockwood-Holmes (Floris Books)
- Wiggling Words by Kate Rolfe (Macmillan)