The 10 titles on this year’s Translated Literature longlist were first published in seven different languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Indonesian (appearing for the first time as a translated language in the category), Norwegian, Russian, and Spanish. The Finalists in all five categories will be revealed on Tuesday, October 6.

By Andrew Richard Albanese, Editor-in-Chief

The National Book Foundation today announced the longlist for the 2026 National Book Award for Translated Literature, as well as the longlist for Young People’s Literature.

In a release, reps said the 10 titles on this year’s Translated Literature longlist were first published in seven different languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, Indonesian (appearing for the first time as a translated language in the category) Norwegian, Russian, and Spanish. The list features nine novels and some work of nonfiction, with several of this year’s honored authors and translators previously recognized by foundation for their work.

“Translator Martin Aitken was a finalist in 2018 (Love by Hanne Ørstavik) and Longlisted in 2022 (The Employees by Olga Ravn). Mohamed Mbougar Sarr and translator Lara Vergnaud were longlisted in 2023 for The Most Secret Memory of Men. Maria Stepanova and translator Sasha Dugdale were Longlisted in 2021 for In Memory of Memory,” the release notes. “Translator Natasha Wimmer was longlisted in 2019 (Space Invaders by Nona Fernández) and a finalist in 2021 (The Twilight Zone by Nona Fernández). Samar Yazbek and translator Leri Price were finalists both in 2021 (Planet of Clay) and in 2024 (Where the Wind Calls Home). Price was also a finalist in 2019 (Death Is Hard Work by Khaled Khalifa) and longlisted in 2023 (No One Prayed Over Their Graves by Khaled Khalifa).”

The 2026 longlist was drawn from 159 books submitted for consideration. The judges for this year’s Translated Literature honor are Shelley Fairweather-Vega, Javier García del Moral, John Keene, Christopher Merrill (Chair), and Azareen Van der Vliet Oloomi.

The 2026 Longlist for the National Book Award for Translated Literature:

My Dreadful Body by Egana Djabbarova, translated from the Russian by Lisa C. Hayden
(New Vessel Press)

Now I Surrender by Álvaro Enrigue, translated from the Spanish by Natasha Wimmer (Riverhead Books/Penguin Random House).

Eden at Dawn by Karim Kattan, translated from the French by Jeffrey Zuckerman (Restless Books).

The School of Night by Karl Ove Knausgaard, translated from the Norwegian by Martin Aitken
(Penguin Press/Penguin Random House).

To the East of the East by Ping Lu, translated from the Chinese by Jeremy Tiang (World Editions).

Centroeuropa by Vicente Luis Mora, translated from the Spanish by Rahul Bery
(Bellevue Literary Press).

Night of a Thousand Hells by Intan Paramaditha, translated from the Indonesian by Stephen Epstein and Tiffany Tsao (Europa Editions).

Pure Men by Mohamed Mbougar Sarr, translated from the French by Lara Vergnaud (Other Press).

The Disappearing Act by Maria Stepanova, translated from the Russian by Sasha Dugdale
(New Directions Publishing).

Your Presence Is a Danger to Your Life: Voices of Survival and Witness in Gaza by Samar Yazbek, translated from the Arabic by Leri Price (Other Press).

2026 Longlist for the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature:

In addition to the longlist for Translated Literature, the National Book Foundation this week also announced the longlist for the 2026 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature (YPL). Publishers submitted a total of 290 books for this year’s honor. The judges include Edith Campbell, Brandy Colbert (Chair), Tricia Ebarvia, Jarrett J. Krosoczka, and Anne Ursu.

The Free Verse Society by Delali Adjoa (Peachtree Teen/Peachtree Publishing).

Holloway by Elana K. Arnold (Clarion Books/HarperCollins Publishers).

The Celestial Seas by T. A. Chan (Viking Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House)

When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller (Random House Books for Young Readers / Penguin Random House).

That Which Feeds Us: A Hawaiian Gothic by Keala Kendall (Random House Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House).

The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America by David Levithan and Gabriel Duckels (Knopf Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House).

The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller (Philomel Books/Penguin Random House).

Clothes to Make You Smile: Patrick Kelly Designs His Dreams by Eric Darnell Pritchard and Shannon Wright (Abrams Books for Young Readers/Abrams)

Shook by Julian Randall (Henry Holt and Company (BYR)/Macmillan Publishers).

Life on the Moon by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr (Knopf Books for Young Readers/Penguin Random House).

The Finalists in all five categories will be revealed on Tuesday, October 6; Winners will be announced live at the 77^th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.