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
The #WolfsonHistoryPrize 2026 shortlist is announced tomorrow! ⏰
Be sure to follow @wolfsonhistoryprize to see the announcement as soon as it goes live.
“We all connect [Machiavelli] with deviousness.”
Which historical figures deserve a second look? #WolfsonHistoryPrize judges Sudhir Hazareesingh and Helen King discuss the people they think history has misunderstood.
Is there someone from the past you`d defend? Tell us in the comments. 💬
Where does a lifelong love of history begin? #WolfsonHistoryPrize judges Sudhir Hazareesingh and Helen King share the people and inspirations that sparked their fascination with the past. 📜
What does a decade of remarkable history look like?
From Napoleon and the Hundred Years War to black Tudors and the legacies of Nazi persecution, the Wolfson History Prize shortlists of the 2010s brought the past vividly back to life. Which of these books have you read? 📚
Why read history?
History explains how we got here. It can challenge what we think we know and often fundamentally change our understanding of the present. And in the case of a #WolfsonHistoryPrize book, it`s also a brilliant read. Ahead of next week`s shortlist announcement, our judges reflect on the value of reading history.
Why do you think understanding the past matters today? Tell us in the comments. 👇
History`s biggest books are about to take centre stage. In just one week, we`ll reveal the #WolfsonHistoryPrize 2026 Shortlist. ⏰
For the very best history writing, where credibility meets readability, follow us here.
Which history books would make your shortlist this year?
"Historians are vital to the preservation of sane society."
Introducing the final judge for the 2026 #WolfsonHistoryPrize, Diarmaid MacCulloch. He is a winner of the 2004 Wolfson History Prize, an ordained deacon and a Fellow of the British Academy. 📕
At the turn of the century, a new era of historical writing emerged. From @wmarybeard `s vivid examination of life in Pompeii to Barry Cunliffe`s dynamic account of seafaring, the 2000s produced some remarkable winners of the #WolfsonHistoryPrize. It`s an era well worth revisiting.
Which book would you pick up first? 📚
