Here’s the shortlist for the 2026 Dylan Thomas Prize.

Today, the finalists for the Swansea University Dylan Thomas Prize, which aims to encourage “raw creative talent worldwide,” were announced. The prize, which is worth £20,000, is open to works of fiction, poetry, and drama published in English by a writer, of any nationality, aged 39 or younger. Here’s this year’s shortlist, which consists of four novels and two poetry collections:

Harriet Armstrong, To Rest Our Minds and Bodies (UK, novel)

Colwill Brown, We Pretty Pieces of Flesh (UK, novel)

Sasha Debevec-McKenney, Joy is My Middle Name (US, poetry)

Suzannah V. Evans, Under the Blue (UK, poetry)

Seán Hewitt, Open, Heaven (UK, novel)

Derek Owusu, Borderline Fiction (UK, novel)

The shortlist was chosen by a judging panel consisting of Irenosen Okojie (chair), Joe Dunthorne, Nidhi Zak/Aria Eipe, Prajwal Parajuly, and Eley Williams. The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Swansea on May 14th, International Dylan Thomas Day.