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- Marlon James is the current favourite to win the 2026 Booker Prize for The Disappearers, with betting sites putting him clear of the rest of a 13-strong field at 6/5.
- The shortlist for this year's prize will be announced at a public event at the Southbank Centre on Tuesday, 22 September, featuring all five judges in conversation.
- The winner, to be revealed on Monday, 9 November at Old Billingsgate, will receive £50,000, with each of the shortlisted authors picking up £2,500.
James Emerges As The Man To Beat
Marlon James is the current favourite to win this year's Booker Prize, with betting sites putting the Jamaican author clear of the rest of the pack as the literary world turns its attention toward this year's 57th edition of the award.
James's novel The Disappearers currently leads a field of 13 longlisted books, with the shortlist itself still a few weeks away from being confirmed.
Being installed as favourite well before the shortlist stage is always a notable position for any author to find themselves in, since it means James will carry that tag through the announcement itself and likely right up until the winner is revealed in November.
That all depends on him being included in the shortlist at the end of this month, though, with a clearer view of the market set for then.
James's own history with the prize only adds to the intrigue, having previously won the award for A Brief History of Seven Killings, and a second win would put him among a select group of authors to have claimed the honour more than once.
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The Odds: James Well Clear At The Top
With 13 authors currently priced up, James sits well ahead of a competitive field that includes several previous prize winners and nominees.
| Author | Book | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marlon James | The Disappearers | 6/5 | 45.5% |
| Douglas Stuart | John of John | 5/2 | 28.6% |
| Emma Cline | Switzy | 3/1 | 25.0% |
| Elizabeth Strout | The Things We Never Say | 5/1 | 16.7% |
| Rebecca Perry | May We Feed the King | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Kenan Orhan | The Renovation | 7/1 | 12.5% |
| Djamel White | All Them Dogs | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Michael John Harrison | The End of Everything | 10/1 | 9.1% |
| Luke Kennard | Black Bag | 10/1 | 9.1% |
| Chloe Aridjis | The Shadow of the Object | 12/1 | 7.7% |
| Missouri Williams | The Vivisectors | 14/1 | 6.7% |
| Gwendoline Riley | The Palm House | 16/1 | 5.9% |
| Makenna Goodman | Helen of Nowhere | 18/1 | 5.3% |
James's implied probability of 45.5% puts real distance between him and previous Booker winner Douglas Stuart in second, whose price of 5/2 works out at 28.6%.
Emma Cline isn't far behind at 25.0%, meaning the top three names alone account for close to the entirety of the market's confidence between them.
Key Dates And Prize Money
The shortlist will be announced at a public event at the Southbank Centre in London on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, an occasion that will feature all five of this year's judges discussing the longlist in conversation ahead of revealing which six titles make the final cut.
Events of this kind have become something of a fixture in the prize's calendar, offering readers a rare chance to hear directly from the judging panel before the shortlist itself is confirmed.
The winning book will then be announced on Monday, 9 November 2026, at a ceremony held at Old Billingsgate in London.
The winner will receive £50,000 for their efforts, while each of the shortlisted authors, regardless of whether they go on to win, will be presented with £2,500 in recognition of making the final six.
Betting on the Booker Prize Winner 2026
How The Rest of the Market Looks
Elizabeth Strout and Rebecca Perry occupy the middle of the market at 5/1 and 6/1 respectively, while Kenan Orhan and Djamel White sit further back at 7/1 and 8/1.
Michael John Harrison and Luke Kennard are tied at 10/1 apiece, and the remaining three names, Chloe Aridjis, Missouri Williams and Gwendoline Riley, occupy the market's longer prices before Makenna Goodman rounds things out as the current outsider at 18/1.
What the expert says...
Where To Bet On The Booker Prize
For those looking to get involved in the market, it's worth comparing prices across a range of betting sites, since odds on literary prizes like this one can shift considerably once the shortlist is confirmed later this month.
Checking out some of the best entertainment betting sites is a sensible starting point for anyone newer to this type of market, and many offer free bets for new customers, which can be a useful way to follow the prize through to its conclusion in November.
For the latest updates as the prize develops, keep an eye on our dedicated Booker Prize coverage.
