We’re delighted to introduce the judges for the 2027 Women’s Prizes for Fiction and Non-Fiction.
From historians, broadcasters and journalists, to novelists, poets and scholars, these two extraordinary panels chaired by Merve Emre and Susie Dent will be setting your reading list for 2027 and beyond. United by their passion for brilliant books, they’ll champion excellence, originality and accessibility in fiction and non-fiction written in English by women across the world.
Claire Shanahan, Executive Director of the Women’s Prize Trust said: “These judges understand the brief entirely: to collectively select 32 exceptional books and create the ultimate reading list; to celebrate the talented writers behind the books; and to help place their writing into the hands of millions of readers around the world. This speaks to the heart of the Women’s Prize Trust’s mission, and our belief in the power of women’s voices to entertain, to inform and to inspire change.”
The 2027 Fiction Panel
The Women’s Prize for Fiction is the largest celebration of female creativity in the world. The 2027 Prize will be chaired by Merve Emre, scholar, critic, editor and professor, joined by Charlotte Collins, Editor-in-Chief of SheerLuxe, broadcaster and podcast host; Esther Freud, novelist and playwright; Theresa Lola, poet, writer and artist; and Eimear McBride, novelist and writer.
Top (L-R) Eimear McBride, Esther Freud, Charlotte Collins Bottom (L-R) Theresa Lola, Merve Emre
It is: an honor to judge the Women’s Prize for Fiction; a thrill to discover new authors and seasoned ones, trying new things; a challenge to assemble a small library of exemplary books; a privilege to think with my fellow judges about fiction’s unique status in our imperfect world.”
Merve Emre, scholar, critic, editor and professor
The 2027 Non-Fiction Panel
The Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction celebrates exceptional narrative non-fiction written by female thought-leaders, changemakers and experts. The 2027 Prize will be chaired by Susie Dent, lexicographer, writer and broadcaster, joined by Shrabani Basu, historian, biographer, and journalist; Reeta Chakrabarti, journalist, broadcaster and novelist; Sophie Morgan, writer, broadcaster, artist and disability advocate; and Emma Reed Turrell, psychotherapist, author, podcaster and speaker.
Top (L-R) Reeta Chakrabarti, Emma Reed Turrell, Shrabani Basu Bottom (L-R) Sophie Morgan, Susie Dent
It is an enormous privilege to be chairing a panel of such impressive women, in a category of writing that has been a constant source of joy and learning throughout my own career. Women’s non-fiction writing is all too often overlooked and undervalued and, together with my fellow judges, I look forward to amplifying the voices of those whose experience, wisdom, and expertise can enrich us all.”
Susie Dent, lexicographer, writer and broadcaster
The 2027 Women’s Prize for Fiction longlist will be announced on 10 March and the shortlist on 28 April. The 2027 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction longlist will be announced on 10 February and the shortlist on 7 April. Winners of both prizes will be revealed on 17 June at the charity’s summer party in Bedford Square Gardens, London.
The winner of the 2027 Women’s Prize for Fiction will receive £30,000, anonymously endowed, along with a limited-edition bronze statuette known as the ‘Bessie’, created and donated by the artist Grizel Niven. The winner of the 2027 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction will receive £30,000 and a limited-edition artwork known as the ‘Charlotte’ created by Ann Christopher (RA FRSS), both gifted by the Charlotte Aitken Trust.
The Women’s Prize Trust welcomes the support of the Krystyna and Dan Houser Foundation. The Trust thanks the Charlotte Aitken Trust who have bolstered their funding of the charity’s work championing non-fiction writing by women, and Audible for their longstanding support of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Discoveries.
