Announcing the 2026 shortlist:
six great histories, brilliantly told.
We are delighted to present the Wolfson History Prize 2026 shortlist. Spanning nearly 3,000 years of human history, each of these six exceptional books sheds light on how societies are brought together – or driven apart – in the wake of profound change.
- In turbulent times – when the past itself is often bitterly contested – careful, thoughtful history is ever more important.
Paul Ramsbottom, Chief Executive, Wolfson Foundation
Meet the judges
- These remarkable six books remind us of the power of history writing, not just to uncover the past but to bring new perspectives and nuance to our understanding of the present.
David Cannadine, Chair of judges
Keep up to date with the prize
What inspires authors? We spoke with this year’s #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlisted authors for an insight into their research.
Learn more about Francis Young and `Silence of the Gods: The Untold History of Europe`s Last Pagan Peoples’ in our Q&A (linked in bio). @cambridgeuniversitypress 🎊
"His interpretation of the Sámi as irreligious reflected the assumptions about religiosity he brought with him"
Curious about this year`s #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlist? Read the full extract from `Silence of the Gods: The Untold History of Europe`s Last Pagan Peoples’ by Francis Young on our website (linked in bio). @cambridgeuniversitypress 🎧
"An original, sprightly analysis of the surprisingly overlooked survival of pre-Christian beliefs"
Discover why ‘Silence of the Gods: The Untold History of Europe`s Last Pagan Peoples’ by Francis Young captured the attention of the #WolfsonHistoryPrize panel. @cambridgeuniversitypress 🌿
To round off our #ShortlistSpotlight series, we introduce Francis Young and `Silence of the Gods: The Untold History of Europe`s Last Pagan Peoples` shortlisted for the 2026 #WolfsonHistoryPrize.
Congratulations to Francis Young and @cambridgeuniversitypress 🎊
Every historian has a shelf of favourites. Discover the books that have inspired Selena Wisnom, from a biography of Rome`s most extraordinary woman to the Middle Ages` answer to self-help.
Browse her selection on our @bookshop_org_uk page (linked in bio) 📚
📕 `Gilgamesh` by Sophus Helle
📕 `The Poison King` by Adrienne Mayor
📕 `Agrippina` by Emma Southon
📕 `Alaric the Goth` by Douglas Boin
📕 `Persian Fire` by Tom Holland
📕 `Self Help from the Middle Ages` by Peter Jones
📕 `The Mesopotamian Riddle` by Joshua Hammer
What makes history special? We invited this year’s Wolfson History Prize shortlisted authors to share the perspectives that shaped their books.
Learn more about Selena Wisnom and ‘The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History’ in our Q&A (linked in bio). @allenlanepr
"The library has become a kiln [...] setting their words almost as if in stone"
Hear ‘The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History’ by Selena Wisnom for yourself. Read the full extract on our website (linked in bio) and find out why it`s on this year`s #WolfsonHistoryPrize shortlist. @allenlanepr 🎧
"Wisnom`s book offers a thrilling panorama of ancient Mesopotamian society"
Discover why ‘The Library of Ancient Wisdom: Mesopotamia and the Making of History’ by Selena Wisnom stood out to the #WolfsonHistoryPrize panel. @allenlanepr 📜
