The 2026 Baillie Gifford prize longlist features 13 nonfiction titles, ranging from deep investigations into modern espionage to historical biographies and accounts of contemporary global conflict. Judges selected these works from books published in the UK over the past year. This list includes notable returns for past winners and marks a significant moment for the prestige of the award.
Notable Authors and Subjects
American journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, who previously won the prize in 2021, returns to the list with London Falling. His work tracks the death of Zac Brettler, a teenager involved in a high-stakes deception involving a Russian oligarch. Charlotte Higgins, chief culture writer for The Guardian, earned a spot with Ukrainian Lessons, an examination of how art functions during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ben Macintyre rounds out the high-profile entries with Redwood, which recounts the life of a KGB double agent working within revolutionary Tehran.
Biography serves as a anchor for the selection this year. Nicholas Boggs presents a new study of James Baldwin, using fresh materials to analyze the writer's personal life. Matthew Sweet explores the career of Barbara Cartland, placing the romance novelist in the context of shifting social norms. The list also touches on exploration with Andrea Wulf’s account of George Forster, the 18th-century traveler who accompanied Captain Cook.
Conflict and Investigation
Global instability remains a central focus for the judging panel. Anand Gopal reports from Manbij, Syria, to document the revolution there. Åsne Seierstad provides a view of contemporary Russia in Never Say War, while Ian Buruma tracks the lives of Berlin residents between 1939 and 1945. Edmund Richardson takes a different path, providing a portrait of Alexander the Great. These books provide historical and contemporary perspectives on how people survive under pressure.
Investigative reporting also claims a share of the longlist. Bojan Pancevski probes the sabotage of North Sea gas pipelines in The Nord Stream Conspiracy. Edward Chisholm revisits the death of Alain Delon’s bodyguard in Murder in Paris ’68. Jane Rogoyska completes the set with Hotel Exile, a narrative about a Parisian hotel used by Nazi intelligence during the war.
Industry Context and Next Steps
Kirsty Lang, who serves as the lead judge, described the selection process as a period of intense debate. The panel, which included Elif Shafak and Sam Leith, aimed to represent the breadth of modern nonfiction. The prize has evolved since its origins in 1999 and now maintains a strong link to the investment firm Baillie Gifford, which has sponsored the award since 2016.
Financial backing of literary awards remains a point of tension in the industry. The firm previously faced pressure regarding its fossil fuel investments, which led to the cancellation of several partnerships with UK literary festivals. The winner of the 2026 prize will receive £50,000. The shortlist of six books will be revealed on 1 October, with the final winner announced on 4 November.