Here are the Women's Prize 2026 Winners
Women’s Prize Trust Celebrates 2026 Fiction and Non-Fiction Winners
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Two exceptional works of women's writing were celebrated at the Women's Prize Trust's annual summer celebration on Thursday 11 June, as the 2026 prizes for Fiction and Non-Fiction were announced at Bedford Square Gardens.
Virginia Evans has won the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction for her debut novel The Correspondent, while Lyse Doucet took home the 2026 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction for The Finest Hotel in Kabul: A People's History of Afghanistan. Both winners will receive £30,000 alongside their respective statuettes.
Non-Fiction Victory: Doucet Captures Afghanistan Through a Hotel
BBC Chief International Correspondent Lyse Doucet made history with The Finest Hotel in Kabul, marking her debut book as a work of narrative non-fiction. The book centres the Inter-Continental Hotel in Kabul as a lens through which readers experience decades of turbulence, survival, and daily life in modern Afghanistan.
"The Finest Hotel in Kabul is a perfect work of narrative non-fiction," said Thangam Debbonaire, Chair of Judges for the 2026 Women's Prize for Non-Fiction. "It is not only cleverly constructed and brilliantly researched, but each and every element is handled with extraordinary sensitivity and warmth – it will move you to tears or make you laugh, or perhaps both."
Doucet was selected by a panel that included engineer Roma Agrawal, NEOM Wellbeing founder Nicola Elliott, novelist Nina Stibbe, and Crown Court judge Nicola Williams. The winning author received the 'Charlotte' sculpture, gifted by the Charlotte Aitken Trust, and the prize was sponsored by Findmypast.
Fiction Winner: Evans Delivers Heartfelt Epistolary Novel
American writer Virginia Evans claimed the Fiction prize with The Correspondent, an epistolary novel composed of letters to friends, family, and real-life authors. The story follows 73-year-old protagonist Sybil Van Antwerp as she reflects on choices, regrets, and unexpected second chances through the written word.
Julia Gillard, former Prime Minister of Australia and Chair of Judges for the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction, praised Evans' remarkable achievement. "It is no mean feat to write a life in letters, but Evans makes this feel effortless," Gillard said. "This is a novel that captured our hearts, and should be read and savoured by all."
Evans was chosen by a diverse judging panel featuring poet Mona Arshi, podcaster Salma El-Wardany, comedian Cariad Lloyd, and broadcaster Annie Macmanus. Her prize includes the 'Bessie' statuette—created and donated by the late artist Grizel Niven—and was sponsored by Audible and Baileys.
Championing Women's Writing
Announcing the winners at the evening celebration, the Women's Prize Trust emphasized its mission to build a better future by championing women's writing during challenging times.
"I offer my heartfelt congratulations to our two truly worthy 2026 winners," stated the Trust leader. "Amplifying women's voices and their power to inspire change is as important now as it ever has been, perhaps even more so."
The evening also highlighted the wider work of the Women's Prize Trust, including the Readers' Room initiative with three book clubs shadowing the prizes, and Discoveries—the Trust's talent development programme for unpublished and unagented writers. Notably, 2024 Discoveries winner Niamh Connolly spoke at the event about the programme's support and community.
This year's prizes recognised 32 extraordinary books across both categories, described as "a compelling affirmation of what women's words can achieve." The Trust urged readers to buy, borrow, and share the shortlisted titles to continue supporting women's voices in literature.
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