Few literary competitions are more esteemed than the Pulitzer Prize. While not strictly just for literary (the Pulitzer prize recognises achievement in journalism and musical composition, too), it's annual book winners are a great guide for those looking for their next read.

Announced this week, the 2026 book winners span fiction, history, memoir, poetry, biography and nonfiction. Together, they reflect contemporary storytelling in the current moment — from war narratives to intimate explorations of grief, and urgent examinations of political and social realities.

Fiction: Angel Down by Daniel Kraus

Set during World War I, this novel follows a group of soldiers who encounter a fallen angel on the battlefield. The entire book is written as a single, unbroken sentence, pushing the boundaries of structure while also delivering a unique take on war.

History: We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution by Jill Lepore

A sweeping account of the United States Constitution, Lepore’s book centres the often-overlooked figures who fought to reshape it. In doing so, she traces a long history of reform, resistance and unrealised change.

Nonfiction: There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America by Brian Goldstone

This is an incisive look at America’s housing crisis, focusing on the “working homeless” – i.e., individuals with jobs who still cannot afford stable housing.

Memoir: Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li

Li’s memoir confronts unimaginable loss following the deaths of her two sons. Rather than being overly sentimental, however, it charts the complexity and endurance of grief at this scale.

Poetry: Ars Poeticas by Juliana Spahr

Spahr’s latest collection considers the role of poetry in times of crisis, moving between the personal and political with a focus on climate change, language and power.

Biography: Pride and Pleasure: The Schuyler Sisters in an Age of Revolution by Amanda Vaill

Expanding beyond their pop culture revival in Hamilton, this biography brings depth and nuance to the lives of the Schuyler sisters, situating them firmly within the political and social landscape of their time.