The Jhalak Prize
We're thrilled to partner with the Jhalak Prize – which celebrates books by writers of colour – to help them increase awareness of the prize titles amongst booksellers, who have always been the best champions of books in their local communities.
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The Jhalak Prize 2026
2026 marks the tenth anniversary of the Jhalak Prize. The last decade has seen the Prize celebrate an incredible wealth of talent by writers of colour published in the United Kingdom and Ireland. At National Book Tokens, we're proud to work in partnership with the Prize to ensure that these amazing books are brought to local communities by the bookshops that so brilliantly serve them.
The 2026 Jhalak Prize winners were announced on 10th June, with Diana Evans, Maggie Harris and Fidan Meikle taking home the awards for the Prose, Poetry and Children's & YA Prizes respectively. Discover all the winning, shortlisted and longlisted books below, and find them on the shelves at your local bookshop.
This year's judging panel includes inaugural Jhalak Prize winner Jacob Ross alongside Romalyn Ante, Sita Brahmachari, Lanisha Butterfield, Nikita Gill, Catherine Johnson, Christine Pillainayagam, Ami Rao and Kadija (George) Sesay. The Jhalak Art Residency, which commissions artists and illustrators of colour to create unique works of art that serve as trophies for the winners of the Jhalak Prize awards, continues this year. The Jhalak Artists in Residence for 2026 are Hoang Giang (Children's & Young Adult), Malak Mattar (Poetry) and Munir Wakad (Prose)
Find out about our partnership with the Jhalak Prize below, including information about the inaugural Bookshop Partners, launched as part of the tenth anniversary celebrations. Visit jhalakprize.com for more about the prize, the Art Residency, and this year's judges.
Want to hear more? Don't forget to follow #JhalakPrize26 and @jhalakprize on social media for updates. Plus, find out what 15 must-read books by writers of colour this year's judges recommend!
Visit jhalakprize.com"The judges have, once again, selected towering works of literature for winners of the three Jhalak Prize awards. Their choices exemplify the courageous and defiant works that have become a hallmark of the Prize over the past decade. These are books that are urgent and necessary now and shall endure far into the future."
Sunny Singh, Prize Director
The Jhalak Prose Prize winner 2026
I Want to Talk to You: And Other Conversations
by Diana Evans (Chatto & Windus)
Acclaimed author Diana Evans won the Jhalak Prose Prize for her powerfully crafted, genre-defying work of prose. As well as a prize of £1,000, Evans was presented with a specially created work of art by Munir Wakad as part of the ongoing Jhalak Art Residency.
The artwork is titled 'Visit Two'.
Visit Palestine posters were produced in the 1930s as part of a campaign by the Tourist Development Association of Palestine.
Wakad remakes the posters, breaking it down into squares. Over the reconstituted poster, he writes stories of the daily sufferings of Palestinian families as they navigate the real-world impacts of the project, from walls around farmland to checkpoints separating communities.
The poster here was printed in 1936, of Jaffa oranges, once a major Palestinian export. The image is reconstituted alongside the story of a mother struggling to continue the family farm, a simple plot of land that she is often barred from accessing.
The print is mounted on wood and painted in oil.
"A beautifully crafted, emotionally intelligent collection that speaks powerfully to the world we live in and the people we are trying to become."
Ami Rao, judge
"The work of a confident author who can lead the reader into a myriad of conversations, about creativity, motherhood, and grief and music. Evans' writing shines."
Catherine Johnson, judge
"Encapsulates the nuances, complexity and beauty of the most thought-provoking contemporary writers in a single book."
Jacob Ross, judge
The Jhalak Children's & Young Adult Prize winner 2026
I Am Samim
by Fidan Meikle (Floris Books)
Writer, lingust and translator Fidan Meikle won the Jhalak Children's & Young Adult Prize for her heartbreaking yet hopeful middle grade debut. As well as a prize of £1,000, Meikle was presented with a specially created work of art by Hoang Giang as part of the ongoing Jhalak Art Residency.
Giang tells us more about the artwork, which is titled 'Beyond the Clouds':
"This piece explores the uncertain future that today's children will inherit. A diverse group of young children stands united before a large, dark cloud that obscures the horizon. Behind it, a soft glow of light breaks through — symbolising both hope and the unknown.
Rather than focusing on fear, I wanted to capture a quiet sense of resilience and possibility. Through this ambiguity, the work reflects the critical responsibility of the current generation to create a brighter world for those who come after us.
The piece is painted primarily in traditional watercolour, with only minor digital cleaning and refinement to enhance clarity and luminosity."
"I hope it's read widely by young people and educators… It's a torch light of a story with the power to change minds, open hearts and forge friendships."
Sita Brahmachari, judge
"A shining reminder of what truly matters. Empathy. Compassion. Kindness. Courage. Unity. Acceptance. Love. I can't think of a more deserving, urgent winner."
Lanisha Butterfield, judge
"This remarkable debut novel is a reminder of our shared humanity in a time of deep division. Heart expanding and hopeful."
Christine Pillainayagam, judge
The Jhalak Poetry Prize winner 2026
I Sing to the Greenhearts
by Maggie Harris (Seren)
Guyanese poet, writer and memoirist won the Jhalak Poetry Prize for her stunningly beautiful, incisive collection. As well as a prize of £1,000, Harris was presented with a specially created work of art by Malak Mattar as part of the ongoing Jhalak Art Residency.
Titled 'Motherhood in Palestine', Mattar says of her painting:
"A Palestinian mother is more than just a woman with children. She is mother to prisoners, martyrs, the disabled and hurting. She is an orphan, a widow and bereaved parent. She protects her land and home, holding fast to the key. She teaches peace and love, but fights when she must, along with the men.
This work is painted in oil on canvas board."
"A beautiful and discerning collection that explores how the colonial meets natural history."
Romalyn Ante, judge
"Maggie Harris uses her powerful skills of reflection, craft and cadence to give us one of the most incisive, magical poetry collections of the decade."
Nikita Gill, judge
"This is a book written with love. Maggie Harris […] captures so many emotions as she weaves stories of colonial past and Black British present. A marvellous piece of work."
Kadija (George) Sesay, judge
The Jhalak Prose Prize shortlist 2026
Act Normal: Joy and Despair in Postcolonial Britain
by Pete Kalu (HopeRoad)
Call Me Ishmaelle
by Xiaolu Guo (Vintage)
Foreign Fruit
by Katie Goh (Canongate)
Hail Mary
by Funmi Fetto (Magpie)
I Want to Talk to You
by Diana Evans (Chatto & Windus)
The South
by Tash Aw (Fourth Estate)
"This shortlist reflects the depth and breadth of work published this year... there was so much brilliance to choose from across fiction, essays, and memoir."
Catherine Johnson, judge, Jhalak Prose Prize
"This year's shortlist highlights the richness and diversity of diasporic voices, with each work offering a unique exploration of identity, migration and belonging across borders and generations."
Ami Rao, judge, Jhalak Prose Prize
"There is craft here; and there is freshness and innovation. Every book on this shortlist exposes us to meaningful ways of engaging with our world."
Jacob Ross, judge, Jhalak Prose Prize
Jhalak Children's & YA Prize shortlist 2026
Augmented
by Kenechi Udogu (Faber)
How to Catch an Idea
by Forest Xiao (Orchard Books)
My Name is Samim
by Fidan Meikle (Floris Books)
Roar
by Manjeet Mann (Penguin Books)
Supa Nova
by Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow)
The Shell Keepers
by Truly Johnson (Chicken House)
"Stories that prove both small moments and huge journeys are of equal importance to the imagination."
Christine Pillainayagam, judge, Jhalak Children's & YA Prize
"Each title offers a thought-provoking slice of magic […] that reminds us to frolic in the wonderland of our imagination."
Lanisha Butterfield, judge, Jhalak Children's & YA Prize
"Portals of imagination, fun, scientific knowledge [and] magical, courageous storytelling."
Sita Brahmachari, judge, Jhalak Children's & YA Prize
Jhalak Poetry Prize shortlist 2026
Foretokens
by Sarah Howe (Chatto & Windus)
Holy Boys
by Andres N. Ordorica (Polygon)
I Sing to the Greenhearts
by Maggie Harris (Seren)
My Dearest Friend
by Lady Red Ego (Verve)
The New Carthaginians
by Nick Makoha (Penguin)
Why I am not a Bus Driver
by Ashley Hickson-Lovence (Bad Betty)
"These are stellar poets whose love and care shine through their words and pages."
Kadija (George) Sesay, judge, Jhalak Poetry Prize
"These books push boundaries, explore new voices and ideas, and exhibit the courage and vulnerability that make literature so vital."
Romalyn Ante, judge, Jhalak Poetry Prize
"A shortlist full of future classics is rare… Each collection features powerful narratives, diverse stories, all told with beautifully crafted cadence."
Nikita Gill, judge, Jhalak Poetry Prize
The Jhalak Prose Prize longlist 2026
Act Normal: Joy and Despair in Postcolonial Britain
by Pete Kalu (HopeRoad)
Before We Hit the Ground
by Selali Fiamanya (Borough Press)
Call Me Ishmaelle
by Xiaolu Guo (Vintage)
Foreign Fruit
by Katie Goh (Canongate)
Hail Mary
by Funmi Fetto (Magpie)
I Want to Talk to You
by Diana Evans (Chatto & Windus)
Love Forms
by Claire Adam (Faber)
Minority Rule: Adventures in the Culture War
by Ash Sarkar (Bloomsbury)
Saraswati
by Gurnaik Johal (Serpent's Tail)
Shamiso
by Brian Chikwava (Canongate)
The Science of Racism: Everything you need to know but probably don't - yet
by Keon West (Picador)
The South
by Tash Aw (Fourth Estate)
Jhalak Children's & YA Prize longlist 2026
A Taste of Home
written by Maryam Hassan, illustrated by Anna Wilson (Hodder Children's Books)
Augmented
by Kenechi Udogu (Faber)
Girl, Ultra-Processed
by Amara Sage (Faber)
How to Catch an Idea
by Forest Xiao (Orchard Books)
I Can't Even Think Straight
by Dean Atta (Hodder Children's Books)
My Name is Samim
by Fidan Meikle (Floris Books)
My Soul, A Shining Tree
by Jamila Gavin (Farshore)
Roar
by Manjeet Mann (Penguin Books)
Songs for Ghosts
by Clara Kumagai (Zephyr)
Supa Nova
by Chanté Timothy (Nosy Crow)
The Shell Keepers
by Truly Johnson (Chicken House)
Wild Journey
written by A.M. Dassu, illustrated by Joe Lillington (Zephyr)
Jhalak Poetry Prize longlist 2026
Dante's Inferno
by Lorna Goodison (Carcanet)
Fragments
by Tara Singh (Five Leaves)
Foretokens
by Sarah Howe (Chatto & Windus)
Heirloom
by Catherine-Esther Cowie (Carcanet)
Holy Boys
by Andres N. Ordorica (Polygon)
I Sing to the Greenhearts
by Maggie Harris (Seren)
Leaning Against Time: Selected Poems
by SuAndi (Carcanet)
My Dearest Friend
by Lady Red Ego (Verve)
Nature Matters: Vital Poems from the Global Majority
edited by Mona Arshi & Karen McCarthy Woolf (Faber)
Pulling Faces
by Zakariye (Little Betty)
The New Carthaginians
by Nick Makoha (Penguin)
Why I am not a Bus Driver
by Ashley Hickson-Lovence (Bad Betty)
The Jhalak Prize celebrates books by writers of colour and annually awards £1,000 to three winners. The Jhalak Art Residency sees an artist of colour commissioned to create a unique work of art that serves as the trophy for each of the winners of the prizes.
The artists in residence for 2025 were:
Khaver Idrees - Jhalak Poetry Prize
Ketna Patel - Jhalak Prose Prize
Lucy Farfort - Jhalak Children's & YA Prize
This year's artists will be revealed soon. Find out more about the Jhalak Art Residency.
In Spring 2024, The Jhalak Foundation and the Royal Literary Fund’s WritersMosaic launched The Review, an editorially independent, 16-page biannual insert in The Bookseller magazine.
At National Book Tokens, we're thrilled to be partnering with the Jhalak Prize for the sixth year to help them increase awareness of the prize titles amongst booksellers, who have always been the best champions of books in their local communities. By distributing point of sale kits and social assets to bookshops, and by amplifying their activities through tailored PR support, we help them to create instore displays and shout about the longlists, shortlists and winners from their online channels and in local press.
Jhalak Prize Bookshop Partners
In May 2026, the Jhalak Prize announced the first 25 Bookshop Partners across the UK, with more still to come. From beloved independents to newly opened community spaces, these bookshops share the prize's commitment to connecting writers and readers from all backgrounds – and creating welcoming, inclusive spaces for everyone.
The list includes four specialist children's bookshops and highlights stores already weaving these values into their everyday bookselling, events and community work.
Visit jhalakprize.com/bookshop-partners for the full list.
"There are people who will always read: for whom books have long been a part of their recreational activity as well as formal education. Building a space that feels exciting for them while also being somewhere that can introduce people who haven't read since they were a child and who thought for a long time books simply weren't for them, to the myriad possibilities literature has to offer- that's both a joy and our life's mission."
- Five Leaves Bookshop"Originally from Singapore and an immigrant myself, I'm passionate about championing books from authors from different backgrounds and making sure that stories from all across the globe are available to be enjoyed and appreciated. I truly believe that storytelling transcends genre, ages and backgrounds, and endeavour to bring that into every area of our work."
- Jo Wozencroft, Urmston Books and Board Games"10 years in the book trade has shown me the importance of a bookshop as a safe space. I see it time and time again when people come in and appreciate the team's engagement and willingness to know them as people, rather than customers. The high street is dwindling and I firmly believe that shops like Mostly Books are vital 'third spaces', offering people a sanctuary where they know they are 100% welcome."
- Sarah Dennis, Mostly Books
Previous winners of the Jhalak Prose Prize are N.S. Nuseibeh for Namesake: Reflections on a Warrior Woman (2025), Yepoka Yeebo for Anansi's Gold: the Man Who Swindled the World (2024), Travis Alabanza for None of the Above (2023), Sabba Khan for The Roles We Play (2022), Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi for The First Woman (Oneworld) in 2021, Johny Pitts for Afropean: Notes from Black Europe (Penguin) in 2020, Guy Gunaratne for In Our Mad and Furious City (Tinder Press) in 2019, Reni Eddo-Lodge for Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race (Bloomsbury Circus) in 2018 and Jacob Ross for The Bone Readers (Little, Brown) in 2017.
Previous winners of the Jhalak Children's & Young Adult Prize are Nathanael Lessore for King of Nothing (2025), Hiba Noor Khan for Safiyyah's War (2024), Daniella Jawando for When Our Worlds Collided (2023), Maisie Chan Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths (2022) and Patrice Lawrence for Eight Pieces of Silva (2021).
The inaugural winner of the Jhalak Poetry Prize in 2025 was Mimi Khalvati for Collected Poems.
Visit www.jhalakprize.com to learn more.
We're proud to support the National Year of Reading
If you're into it... read into it! In 2026, every adult, young person and child are invited to Go All In – to discover how reading can make the things you already love even richer.
