Get Ready for the 2026 Carnegies!

Posted on 11 November 2025

The excitement is building! Nominations were announced for the 2026 Carnegies last week, the UK’s longest-running children’s book awards.

Every nominated book will be read and carefully considered by the 2026 judging panel – a team of passionate librarians from CILIP’s Youth Libraries Group. From this amazing list, they’ll create the longlists, shortlists and finally choose the 2026 winners.

But the real magic happens when young readers get involved. Through the Carnegie Shadowing Scheme, children and teens across the UK can read, discuss and vote for their favourite books. It’s a celebration of reading for pleasure and a chance for every young voice to be heard.

Want to join the excitement? Shadowing registration for 2026 is now open.

You can pre-order your Carnegie longlist and shortlist packs now from Scholastic and be among the first to share these inspiring stories with your students or library community. When you order from Scholastic, you get a 35% discount on your longlist and shortlist packs. Plus, if you place your order before our order deadlines then you will receive your pack on the day of the announcement! Please note that the shortlist will be announced in the afternoon of 10th March, so books will be received on 11th March.

Pre-order your packs today and get ready to discover the stories that everyone will be talking about when the winners are announced in June 2026!