The 2026 Toronto Book Awards longlist has been announced, kicking off the annual celebration of books inspired by the city and its people.
The longlist was unveiled July 21 in a City of Toronto news release issued jointly with the Toronto Public Library. The awards recognize authors whose works capture the spirit, history, people and places of Toronto.
The longlisted titles include Black Public Joy: No Permit or Permission Required by Jay Pitter. The full longlist is available on the City's Toronto Book Awards webpage.
The awards process continues in September, when a shortlist of five finalists will be released. The winner will then be revealed at an awards ceremony at the Toronto Reference Library on Tuesday, November 10.
The stakes are higher than in past years. According to the City, the prize amount was doubled last year, and the 2026 winning author will receive $20,000, while each of the remaining shortlisted finalists will take home $2,000.
A 50-year literary tradition
Established in 1974, the Toronto Book Awards celebrate literary excellence and recognize works that deepen understanding of Toronto's people, places, histories and diverse communities.
This year's longlist was assembled by a jury drawn from across Toronto's literary community, bringing together award-winning writers, publishing professionals, educators and literary advocates.
The jurors include author and poet Jake Byrne, novelist and non-fiction writer Kristen den Hartog, literary agent Julia Kim, and educator, anti-racism advocate and writer Matthew R. Morris. Poet, translator and curator Bänoo Zan rounds out the five-member panel.
Readers who want to catch up on the honoured titles before the shortlist drops can borrow them through Toronto Public Library's curated Toronto Book Awards longlist 2026 collection.
More information about the awards is available on the City of Toronto's website.
