14 winning GGBooks revealed by the Canada Council for the Arts
OTTAWA, ON, Nov. 12, 2026 /CNW/ -- The Canada Council for the Arts is pleased to announce the 2026 winners of the Governor General's Literary Awards (GGBooks). These awards celebrate outstanding literary works published in Canada, in English and French, across seven categories, and include books for readers of all ages.
"Books connect people across languages, regions and communities, and that connection matters now more than ever. This year's Governor General's Literary Awards winners invite readers across Canada and around the world into stories and conversations that deepen our sense of belonging, help us understand one another and reflect Canadian experiences and perspectives. The Canada Council for the Arts is proud to celebrate these outstanding literary creations and to support them in reaching readers across the country and beyond."
-- Michelle Chawla, Director and CEO, Canada Council for the Arts
The winning books were chosen by the same 14 peer assessment committees that were convened to select the English-language and French-language finalists announced last month. The peer assessment committees followed a rigorous process in their deliberations and selection of the winners from among over 1,200 eligible books nominated to the 2026 competition by various publishing houses.
About the GGBooks
- Founded in 1936, the Governor General's Literary Awards are some of the oldest and most celebrated literary prizes in Canada, with a total annual prize value of $450,000.
- The Canada Council for the Arts has funded, administered and promoted these awards since 1959.
- Finalists and winners are selected by category-specific, language-based peer assessment committees (seven in English and seven in French). This year, the committees considered eligible books published between July 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026.
- The writers, translators and illustrators whose books are selected as the winner in each category receive a $25,000 prize. Publishers receive $3,000 to promote the winning book; finalists receive $1,000 each.
English-language 2026 winners (Seven categories)
- Fiction: Property – Kate Cayley (Toronto, Ontario), Coach House Books
- Poetry: An Orange, A Syllable – Gillian Sze (Montréal, Quebec), ECW Press
- Drama: Prince Faggot – Jordan Tannahill (New York City, United States), Playwrights Canada Press
- Non-fiction: Black Bear – Trina Moyles (Whitehorse, Yukon), Knopf Canada (Penguin Random House Canada)
- Young People's Literature – Text: Touching Grass – Kristy Jackson (Corman Park, Saskatchewan), HarperCollins Canada
- Young People's Literature – Illustrated Books: Aggie and the Ghost – Matthew Forsythe (Montréal, Quebec), Simon & Schuster Canada
- Translation (from French to English): Together by the Sea – Katia Grubisic (Montréal, Quebec), House of Anansi Press; translation of Une réunion près de la mer, by Marie-Claire Blais
French-language 2026 winners (Seven categories)
- Fiction: Comme les éclipses – Alex Thibodeau (Québec City, Quebec), Tête première
- Poetry: Le royaume des chuchotements – Vincent Lambert (Saint-Philémon, Quebec), Les Éditions du Boréal
- Drama: L'histoire de comment je me suis séparée en deux – Hoda Adra (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions du Noroît
- Non-fiction: Penser croche – Dalie Giroux (La Pêche, Quebec), Mémoire d'encrier
- Young People's Literature – Text: Comment convaincre un fantôme de déménager – Maude Ménard-Dunn (Dunham, Quebec), Éditions Québec Amérique
- Young People's Literature – Illustrated Books: À l'enVERRE – Orbie (Percé, Quebec), Éditions Les 400 coups
- Translation (from English to French): La saignée. Enquête sur l'endométriose et la misogynie médicale ordinaire – Catherine Ego (Montréal, Quebec), Éditions du remue-ménage; translation of Bleed: Destroying Myths and Misogyny in Endometriosis Care, by Tracey Lindeman
The 2026 English-language peer assessment committees
Fiction: Shashi Bhat, Joan Thomas, Kai Thomas
Poetry: Chelene Knight, Tara McGowan-Ross, Ian Roy
Drama: Aviva Armour-Ostroff, Sophie Gee, Ben Nind
Non-fiction: Linda Morra, Naben Ruthnum, Lindsay Wong
Young People's Literature – Text: Carol-Ann Hoyte, Uma Krishnaswami, Richard Van Camp
Young People's Literature – Illustrated Books: Adam de Souza, Raquel Rivera, Nancy Vo
Translation (from French to English): Jo-Anne Elder, Catherine Khordoc, Howard Scott
The 2026 French-language peer assessment committees
Fiction: Katia Belkhodja, Christian Guay-Poliquin, Mélissa Verreault
Poetry: Marie-Andrée Gill, Tania Langlais, Daniel Leblanc-Poirier
Drama: Marianne Dansereau, Thomas Duret, Nadia Girard Eddahia
Non-fiction: Aline Apostolska, Jérôme Cotte, Catherine Mavrikakis
Young People's Literature – Text: Elizabeth Baril-Lessard, Carole Labarre, Nicolas Paquin
Young People's Literature – Illustrated Books: Myriam Chery, Samuel Larochelle, Charlotte Parent
Translation (from English to French): Louise Gaudette, Jonathan Lamy, Steve Savage
About the Canada Council for the Arts
The Canada Council for the Arts' mandate is "to foster and promote the study and enjoyment of, and the production of works in, the arts." Through its grants, services, prizes, initiatives and payments, the Canada Council supports a dynamic and diverse arts and literary scene. These activities have a meaningful cultural, social and economic impact for over 2,000 communities in all parts of the country and beyond. The investments and leadership of the Canada Council help advance public engagement in the arts from coast to coast to coast, while also contributing to the international recognition of artists and arts organizations from Canada.
SOURCE Canada Council for the Arts
Media relations contacts: For media requests, including interviews with artists, please contact: TACT, Megan Rivas-Gagnon, Media Relations, [email protected], 514 691-4376; Karine Charbonneau, Director, Communications, Canada Council for the Arts, [email protected], 613-239-3958 | 1-800-263-5588, extension 5151
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