Inside Literary Prize Reveals 2026 Shortlist and Announces Six-State Prison Tour with Incarcerated Judges
Hundreds of incarcerated judges will select winner of the nation's first major book prize decided exclusively by people in prison
The Inside Literary Prize announced today five National Book Award–honored books that hundreds of incarcerated readers will evaluate as judges for the nation's first major literary prize decided exclusively by people in prison.
Beginning in late April, Freedom Reads will engage hundreds of incarcerated judges in 12 prisons across six states – Illinois, Minnesota, Washington, Maine, Maryland, and Massachusetts. Judges will participate in live literary readings, book discussions, and voting sessions – bringing their perspectives to a prize designed to center their voices. The tour will feature acclaimed writers, including Reginald Dwayne Betts, Founder and CEO of Freedom Reads; 2025 Inside Literary Prize winner Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah; past shortlisted author Jamil Jan Kochai; and more to be announced.
Now in its third year, the Inside Literary Prize – a collaboration between Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation, the Center for Justice Innovation, and Interabang Books co-owner and literary podcaster Lori Feathers – has awarded two prizes and engaged nearly 500 incarcerated judges across both women's and men's facilities in 12 states. Previous winners include Imani Perry for South to America: A Journey Below the Mason-Dixon to Understand the Soul of a Nation and Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah for Chain-Gang All-Stars (see coverage by Literary Hub). This year’s winner will be announced in the summer.
Shortlisted Books and Selection Process
This year's judges will select from five shortlisted titles:
Aednan by Linnea Axelsson, translated by Saskia Vogel | Knopf / Penguin Random House
All Fours by Miranda July | Riverhead Books / Penguin Random House
Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar | Knopf / Penguin Random House
My Friends by Hisham Matar | Random House / Penguin Random House
The Book Censor’s Library by Bothayna Al-Essa, translated by Ranya Abdelrahman and Sawad Hussain | Restless Books
The shortlist was curated by a selection committee of incarcerated readers, writers, and Department of Corrections librarians from the 2024 National Book Awards Finalists in Fiction and Translated Literature.
About the Prize
Launched in December 2023 by Freedom Reads, the National Book Foundation, and the Center for Justice Innovation—with support from literary podcaster and Interabang Books co-owner Lori Feathers—the Inside Literary Prize expands access to contemporary literature for incarcerated communities while amplifying their voices in national literary conversations.
"This third year of the Inside Literary Prize makes me realize just how remarkably dope and unprecedented what we're doing is," said Reginald Dwayne Betts, Freedom Reads Founder & CEO and award-winning poet. "Each year, hundreds of incarcerated readers and writers are thinking about some of the best books being published in this country."
"We’re thrilled to celebrate the third year of the Inside Literary Prize and these five exceptional shortlisted titles alongside our intrepid judges," said Ruth Dickey, Executive Director of the National Book Foundation. “I’m grateful to our like-minded partners for convening vital conversations and building community around books for readers, on the Inside and out.”
“It’s a privilege and honor to discuss these books with the perceptive readers throughout the country who volunteer to judge the Inside Literary Prize. These readers embody the spirit of the Prize: curiosity, shared engagement, and a deep appreciation for the art of storytelling,” said Lori Feathers.
“We co-created and co-sponsor the Inside Literary Prize for a simple but important reason: to build empathy and connection beyond the prison walls,” said Courtney Bryan, Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Justice Innovation. “For the third year in a row, the Inside Literary Prize brings all of us into conversation, linking us through the power of art and literature. By enabling hundreds of incarcerated judges to discuss and evaluate these five beautiful books, the Prize reminds us that we’re all members of the human family and every voice deserves to be heard and respected."
The Inside Literary Prize winner will be announced in August 2026.
About the National Book Foundation
The mission of the National Book Foundation, presenter of the National Book Awards, is to celebrate the best literature published in the United States, connect books with readers of all ages, and champion the literary arts as a vital part of our culture. The Foundation approaches this work from four programmatic angles: Awards & Honors recognize exceptional authors, advocates, literature, and literary programs; Education & Access initiatives foster a lifelong passion for books in young and adult readers; Public Programs bring acclaimed authors to communities nationwide to engage in conversations about books and showcase the power of literature as a tool for understanding our world; and Service to the Literary Field, provides support to the national literary ecosystem. Information on all of the Foundation’s programs can be found online at nationalbook.org.
About the Center for Justice Innovation
The Center for Justice Innovation is a community justice organization that centers safety and racial justice. Since our founding in 1996, the Center has partnered with community members, courts, and the people most impacted to create stronger, healthier, more just communities. Our decades of experience in courts and communities, coupled with our field-leading research and practitioner expertise, help us drive justice nationwide in innovative, powerful, and durable ways. Find out more at innovatingjustice.org.