Finalists Announced for the 2026 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction
Each year, the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards shine a spotlight on some of the most powerful and thought-provoking writing coming out of Aotearoa. This year is no exception, and we’re excited to see the finalists announced for the 2026 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, a category we’re proud to support through the Acorn Foundation.
Recognised as the most valuable literary award in Aotearoa, the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction celebrates the very best of New Zealand storytelling. It’s always a special moment for our team when the shortlist is announced, as it highlights the incredible depth of talent within our writing community and the stories that help shape our cultural identity.
This year’s finalists represent four very different voices in contemporary New Zealand literature.
All Her Lives - Ingrid Horrocks
In All Her Lives, Ingrid Horrocks weaves together a collection of interconnected stories that explore the lives of women across different generations and places. The book moves between time periods, bringing together characters whose experiences echo across history.
Through themes of motherhood, activism, identity and belonging, Horrocks creates a thoughtful reflection on the many ways women navigate the expectations and challenges of their time. Known for her lyrical and reflective writing, Horrocks is a poet, essayist and creative writing lecturer whose work often explores the intersection between personal experience and history.
Hoods Landing - Laura Vincent
Laura Vincent’s Hoods Landing is a compelling novel centred around memory, family and the complicated relationships that tie people to place.
The story follows a young woman returning to a coastal community where past relationships, old tensions and long-buried secrets begin to surface. Vincent, a poet and fiction writer of Ngāti Māhanga and Ngāpuhi descent, brings a distinctive voice to contemporary New Zealand literature. Her writing balances humour and emotional depth while exploring themes of identity, belonging and heritage.
How to Paint a Nude - Sam Mahon
In How to Paint a Nude, artist and writer Sam Mahon offers a fascinating glimpse into the creative world. The novel explores the artistic process through the story of a sculptor whose work and personal life become increasingly intertwined.
Drawing on his own experiences as an internationally recognised sculptor, Mahon examines the tension between artistic ambition, inspiration and integrity. The result is a thoughtful and often witty reflection on creativity, beauty and what it means to pursue artistic truth.
The Book of Guilt - Catherine Chidgey
One of New Zealand’s most celebrated authors, Catherine Chidgey returns with The Book of Guilt — a haunting and imaginative novel set in an alternative version of 1970s England.
The story follows a group of children raised within a mysterious institution where they are part of a secretive programme designed to reshape their moral character. As the narrative unfolds, deeper questions emerge about memory, morality and what it truly means to be human.
Chidgey is no stranger to the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. She previously won the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction in both 2017 and 2023, and her work is widely admired for its originality and compelling storytelling.
Looking ahead to May 2026
The winner of the 2026 Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction will be announced in May at the Auckland Writers Festival, when the literary community gathers to celebrate the year’s most outstanding books.
For the Acorn team, the shortlist announcement is always something we look forward to. It’s a moment to celebrate the incredible talent within Aotearoa’s writing community and recognise the stories that connect us, challenge us and help us see the world a little differently.
A huge congratulations to all four finalists, we can’t wait to see who takes home the prize!