Waterstones has revealed its 2026 Debut Fiction Prize shortlist, which is voted for by the company's booksellers. The winner will be named on July 16. This year's shortlisted titles are:
Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash
Honey in the Wound by Jiyoung Han
Under Water by Tara Menon
May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry
A Private Man by Stephanie Sy-Quia
The Infamous Gilberts by Angela Tomaski
Bea Carvalho, Waterstones head of books, said, "This is a shortlist which showcases writing of tremendous energy, poetic precision, and spry humor, balancing nostalgia with innovation to stunning effect. There is pure magic and electricity in these pages."