2026 Booker shortlist predictions

The time has come for our shortlist predictions. We’ve spent the last few months reading all the longlist books and rating the nominees. Keep reading to see which books topped our collective list and what panelists picked as their personal predictions.

Each year the panel reviews books and scores them on the following categories: writing, plot development, character development, originality, and enjoyment. Of course ratings are highly subjective and often influenced by which books we liked the most. Our collective rankings are often not too well aligned with what books actually make it. Individually, our lists have varied in success.

Our panel’s Rankings: These are the 6 books that would make our collective panel’s shortlist based on ratings alone.

1. The Disappearers: 19.33/20
2. John of John: 16.83/20
3. May We Feed the King: 16.63/20
4. Black Bag: 15.5/20
5. The Things We Never Say: 15.3/20
6. The Renovation: 15/20

• All Them Dogs: 14.5/20
• The Vivesectors: 14.38/20
• The End of Everything: 13.8/20
• Switzy: 13.5/20
• Palm House: 11.63/20
• The Shadow of the Object: 11.63/20
• Helen of Nowhere: 8.9/20

In addition to our collective panel ratings, each individual member gives their predictions and reasons below.

Jen’s Predictions: This year, I’m mostly going with books that I want to make the list. Often my personal preferences are not the ones that make the shortlist but I”m going to stick to what I want to see make the list. I didn’t particularly love Switzy, but the premise was interesting.

1. The Disappearers
2. The Vivisectors
3. The End of Everything
4. May We Feed the King
5. The Renovation
6. Switzy

Nicole’s Predictions: I feel like only listing 3. It was an underwhelming year. This is predictions vs. wishlist, for sure. (I lied, I don’t think The Renovation will make the shortlist, but I really liked it. I originally had Palm House on my list, it just feels too simplistic. It’s more a vignette than book.

1. The Disappearers
2. The Vivisectors
3. The End of Everything
4. Switzy
5. Helen of Nowhere
6. The Renovation

Tracy’s Predictions: Every year I waffle between choosing the books I want to move on, and the ones I didn’t like. Call me superstitious, but the good books don’t seem to advance if I predict them. I read all the long list this year. I even read Helen twice, and still don’t get the book. And I’d really like that time back, thanks. But I’m going to go with what I think will go through, and see how wrong I am!

1. John of John
2. Helen of Nowhere
3. The Disappearers
4. The Shadow of the Object
5. The Vivisectors
6. The Palm House

Anita’s Predictions: These are the books I think are moving on; not necessarily the ones I liked the best. To be fair, I have only read 8 1/2 books so I’m not including any books here that I haven’t read. I personally preferred Strout’s book to The End of Everything and The Renovation, but I don’t think it’s going to move on for a number of reasons including it’s really not her best work. I liked John of John quite a bit, but I’m a little torn about whether it makes the shortlist because it really is the most traditional of a very non-traditional list. But hope springs eternal.

1. Black Bag
2. The Disappearers
3. Switzy
4. John of John
5. The Renovation
6. The End of Everything

Lisa’s Predictions: Even though I DNF The Disappearers, it is my top choice to win based on everyone’s reviews. I included May We Feed the King because it was my personal favorite. I refuse to include Helen of Nowhere in my short list. I liked The Things We Never Say, but it is definitely not her best book. The Palm House was not very memorable. I DNF All Them Dogs and even though others liked it, no one seemed to think it particularly remarkable. This process of elimination helped to narrow my choices for #3- #6. Here’s my list:

1. The Disappearers
2. May we feed the king
3. John of John
4. Switzy
5. Black Bag
6. The Renovation

Andrew’s Predictions: Given that I only completed three of the books (and made it part way through two others) and the fact that I’m returning from hiatus and am out of practice, my predictions will be heavily weighted on the opinions of the other panelists. Given the general vibe of the longlist I’m including two of the books I hated because that seems to be the theme of this year.

1. The Disappearers
2. John of John
3. The Vivisectors
4. The End of Everything
5. May We Feed the King
6. The Things We Never Say

But this is pure speculation and should be completely disregarded with the exception of The Disappearers.

Which books do you predict will make the shortlist? Which of our panelists will predict the most shortlist books? Fellow bloggers, feel free to post links to your predictions.