The Booker Prize 2026: M John Harrison scoops award for post-apocalyptic ‘The End of Everything’
After months of anticipation since the longlist was first announced, science fiction author M John Harrison has been revealed as the winner of the Booker Prize 2026 for his post-apocalyptic novel ‘The End of Everything’.
The author has also made history as, at age 81, he has become the oldest winner of the prize, with a writing career spanning an impressive 60 years.
Classicist, writer and Chair of the Judges Mary Beard unveiled Harrison as the winner at a ceremony held at Old Billingsgate in London. Last year’s winner David Szalay, who won for his novel ‘Flesh’, was also on hand to present Harrison with the revered Art Deco-inspired trophy, named Iris.
The winning novel ‘The End of Everything’ – Harrison’s 13th novel – follows beachcomber Phillip Tennent and his elderly aunt Marnie as they transport a strange artefact Phillip found washed ashore from the Kent coast. The book is set in a near future where society has fractured in the aftermath of a mysterious catastrophe.
Speaking about the winning novel, Beard revealed: “The Booker judges spent a whole day debating the six remarkable novels on this year’s shortlist, before agreeing unanimously to award the 2026 prize to The End of Everything by M. John Harrison.”
“It’s a book that turns you upside down, raises a wry smile – and surprisingly, given the subject matter, leaves you with a twinge of optimism… Some try desperately to make sense of what has happened. But one main point of the book is that if, or when, such an apocalypse comes it will be incomprehensible.”
M John Harrison faced stiff competition this year, with beloved authors Douglas Stuart, Elizabeth Strout and Marlon James (with both Stuart and James previous winners) also in the running.
Debut authors Rebecca Perry, who recently won the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize for her novel ‘May We Feed the King’, and ‘Black Bag’ scribe Luke Kennard also garnered critical acclaim for their shortlisted novels, leaving the judges with a particularly difficult choice this year!
Who made the 2026 Shortlist?
The 2026 shortlist featured the following six titles:
- The End of Everything by M. John Harrison
- The Disappearers by Marlon James
- Black Bag by Luke Kennard
- May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry
- The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
- John of John by Douglas Stuart
Who made the 2026 Longlist?
The 2026 Longlist was comprised of 13 titles, whittled down from an incredible 163 submissions.
- The Shadow of the Object by Chloe Aridjis
- Switzy by Emma Cline
- Helen of Nowhere by Makenna Goodman
- The End of Everything by M. John Harrison
- The Disappearers by Marlon James
- Black Bag by Luke Kennard
- The Renovation by Kenan Orhan
- May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry
- The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley
- The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout
- John of John by Douglas Stuart
- All Them Dogs by Djamel White
- The Vivisectors by Missouri Williams
Who was on the judging panel for the 2026 awards?
The judges for the 2026 Booker Prize Award were:
Chair: Mary Beard
Judges:
- Raymond Antrobus
- Jarvis Cocker
- Rebecca Liu
- Patricia Lockwood
What audiobooks are available via Listening Books?
From the 2026 Booker Prize Longlist and Shortlist, the following titles are currently available to enjoy:
Members can stream or download these titles via the Listening Books website or the Libby app.
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