The Lambda Literary Awards has revealed finalists for its 38th annual edition in 2026, recognizing outstanding LGBTQ+ voices in literature. Twenty-six categories each feature five nominated books.
The Lambda Literary Awards, which celebrate LGBTQ+ literature, announced finalists for the 2026 awards on March 19, 2026. Each of the 26 categories includes five books, providing a broad showcase of recent works published in the U.S. among them are Hungerstone by Kat Dunn in Lesbian Fiction, The Autobiography of H. Lan Thao Lam by Lana Lin in Lesbian Memoir/Biography, Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson by Tourmaline in Transgender Nonfiction, Spent by Alison Bechdel in LGBTQ+ Comics, and Sympathy for Wild Girls by Demree McGhee in Bisexual Fiction. Additional notable nominees include Disco Witches of Fire Island by Blair Fell for Gay Romance, The Natural Order of Things by Donika Kelly for Lesbian Poetry, The Lilac People by Milo Todd for Transgender Fiction, and Bed and Breakup by Susie Dumond for Lesbian Romance. The announcement highlights the abundance of titles, noting that many deserving books may not receive widespread attention. Organizers congratulated all authors on the list, positioning it as a resource for readers to discover overlooked works. This year's finalists reflect a diverse range of genres and experiences within LGBTQ+ literature.
