Professor Luke Kennard’s ‘Black Bag’ longlisted for the Booker Prize 2026

Luke Kennard, Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Birmingham, has had his novel 'Black Bag' longlisted for the Booker Prize 2026.

Published in March 2026, the novel is described as 'an investigation into the crisis of masculinity and an off-kilter love story'. It follows an out-of-work actor who takes on a strange job: sitting zipped inside an oversized bag at the back of a lecture hall throughout the autumn term, as part of a psychological experiment run by Dr Blend, a university professor. As the experiment plays out, a professor of post-humanism finds herself drawn into a question of her own: can you fall in love with someone hidden away inside a black bag?

The Booker Prize is one of the most prestigious awards a book can receive, an annual recognition of the best fiction published in English.

The Booker Prize judges said of the novel: 'This of-the-moment satire considers anonymity and disgust, online rackets, and what it means to find love in our unstable times. We admired its sharply crafted sentences and humour.'

Responding to the news, Professor Kennard said: ‘I'm in a state of happy disbelief about getting longlisted. It's not something you ever expect as a writer, and it means a great deal to me that my novel resonated with the judges and that it will reach more readers thanks to them. It's an incredible list and I'm proud to be on it alongside so many writers I really respect.’

The Booker Prize longlisting is one of many accolades for 'Black Bag'. The Times called it a 'brilliant comic tour de force', and the Times Literary Supplement described it as an 'ode to the importance of friendship, tenderness and love'. The book also featured in Sarah Jessica Parker's early 2026 book roundup on Instagram.

The Booker Prize shortlist will be announced on 22 September, with the winner named on 9 November.