THE FUSE

Kirkus Reviews, the country’s leading publisher of early book reviews, has just announced the 18 finalists for the 2026 Kirkus Prize. The prize, which is in its 13th year and divided into three categories—Fiction, Nonfiction, and Young Readers’ Literature—will grant its winners $50,000 each, making it one of the richest annual literary awards in the world. Books are eligible when they receive a starred review from Kirkus Reviews.