London: The charity behind one of the world’s most prestigious literary awards has announced a new £50,000 Children’s Booker Prize for fiction, to be judged by a combined panel of child and adult judges.

The Booker Prize Foundation said the first edition of the prize will open for nominations in 2026, with the inaugural award presented in 2027. It will recognise the best contemporary fiction for children aged eight to 12, written in or translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland.

Gaby Wood, chief executive of the Booker Prize Foundation, described the initiative as “the most ambitious endeavour we've embarked on in 20 years – and we hope its impact will resonate for decades to come".

Supported by the AKO Foundation, at least 30,000 copies of shortlisted and winning books will be gifted to children, ensuring greater access to world-class fiction. “he evidence linking reading for pleasure to improved educational outcomes and greater social mobility is compelling, and this initiative aligns closely with our priorities as a funder,” said AKO CEO Philip Lawford.

Children’s Laureate and award-winning author Frank Cottrell-Boyce will chair the inaugural panel. He and two adult judges will select a shortlist of eight books, while three child judges, recruited through schools and cultural partners, will help decide the winner.

“Stories belong to everyone. Every child deserves the chance to experience the happiness that diving into a great book can bring. The Children's Booker Prize will make it easier for children to find the best that current fiction can offer. To find the book that speaks to them. By inviting them to the judging table and by gifting copies of the nominated books, it will bring thousands more children into the wonderful world of reading.”, said Cottrell-Boyce.

British author Penelope Lively will deliver a keynote speech on the new prize at the Booker Prize ceremony in London on November 10.

The Booker Prize, first awarded in 1969, is widely regarded as one of the leading literary awards in the English-speaking world. This marks the foundation’s first major new prize in two decades, since the launch of the International Booker Prize in 2005.

Earlier this year, 'Heart Lamp' by Banu Mushtaq, translated from Kannada by Deepa Bhasthi, became the first short story collection and first Kannada translation to win the International Booker Prize.

PTI inputs