Check out these five Irish books shortlisted for the 2026 Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award.
Listowel Writers’ Week has unveiled the shortlist for the 2026 Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award featuring five incredible novels written by Irish authors.
The awards is widely regarded as one of Ireland’s most prestigious literary prizes and it is now celebrating its 55th anniversary in recognising outstanding Irish fiction. This year’s shortlist features the following five titles.
Conversation with the Sea by Hugo Hamilton
The Wardrobe Department by Elaine Garvey
Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ní Mhaoilchoin
The Boy from the Sea by Garrett Carr
Thirst Trap by Gráinne O’Hare
The judging panel is made up of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and author Andrew O’Hagan, with the winner announced on 27 May at Listowel Writers’ Week. The festival runs until 31 May.
Chatting about this year’s shortlist, Catherine Keogh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Kerry, said: “This year’s shortlist reflects the strength and range of contemporary Irish fiction”.
Previous winners of the Kerry Group Irish Novel of the Year Award include Claire Keegan’s Foster in 2022 and Niall William’s Time of the Child in 2025.
