City of Toronto Unveils 2026 Book Awards Longlist
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Thirteen titles recognized for capturing the city's spirit, history, and diverse communities.
The City of Toronto and Toronto Public Library have announced the longlist for the 2026 Toronto Book Awards, highlighting authors whose works reflect the people, places, and history of the city.
The longlist features 13 titles: *Black Public Joy: No Permit or Permission Required* by Jay Pitter, *Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts* by Margaret Atwood, *Cherry Beach* by Don Gillmor, *Fatal Confession: A Girl’s Murder, a Man’s Execution, and the Fitton Case* by Carolyn Strange, *Good Guys* by Sharon Bala, *Housing for All: How Toronto Built the St. Lawrence Neighbourhood* by Frank Lewinberg and Vincenzo Pietropaolo, *juniper* by Kerri Huffman, *The Paper Birds* by Jeanette Lynes, *Precarious: The Lives of Migrant Workers* by Marcello Di Cintio, *Property* by Kate Cayley, *Tyson’s Song* by Peter N. Bailey, *Where Histories Meet: Indigenous and Settler Encounters in the Toronto Area* by Victoria Freeman, and *You Started It* by Jackie Khalilieh.
According to a City of Toronto news release, the jury consists of literary advocates, educators, and writers, including poet Jake Byrne, non-fiction writer Kristen den Hartog, literary agent Julia Kim, anti-racism advocate Matthew R. Morris, and curator Bänoo Zan.
A shortlist of five finalists will be announced in September. The winner will be named on Tuesday, November 10, during a ceremony at the Toronto Reference Library. Following a decision by the City last year to double the prize amount, the winning author will receive $20,000, while the other four finalists will each be awarded $2,000.