The Giller Prize has, for the first time, named a jury composed exclusively of independent booksellers. This year's judges are:
- Dan MacDonald & Lori Cheverie of Bookmark bookstores in Halifax, N.S.; Charlottetown, P.E.I.; and Fredericton, N.B.
- Danielle & Rupert McNally of Ben McNally Books in Toronto, Ont.
- Chris Hall of McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg, Man., and Saskatoon, Sask.
- Sarah Klassen of Mosaic Books in Kelowna, B.C.
- Jenn Baerg Steyn of Yellowknife Books in Yellowknife, N.W.T.
Giller Prize executive director Elana Rabinovitch commented: "As CanLit's frontline workers, independent booksellers play a vital role in platforming Canadian authors, fostering literary community, and bringing new publications to Canadian readers. Representing eight different provinces and territories, these five booksellers will ensure a pan-Canadian, 'people's choice' sensibility in determining this year's best works of Canadian fiction."
The 2026 Giller Prize longlist will be released in mid-September followed by the shortlist in early October, with a winner, who receives C$100,000 (about US$72,080) named in mid-November. Organizers noted that the prize is in search of new sponsors and donors to continue its mission.
Observing that in previous years, authors and artists have sat on the jury, the Canadian Press wrote that "for two decades, Scotiabank was the naming sponsor of the prize, but protests erupted in 2023 over its subsidiary's investment in an Israeli arms manufacturer and the Giller Foundation eventually 'parted ways' with the big bank."