The British Science Fiction Association has announced its 2026 Awards longlist, and African writers have secured 30 nominations across seven categories!

The longlist, recognizing work published in 2025, features established names alongside emerging voices, with writers earning multiple nominations for their contributions to the genre. Eugen Bacon leads the nominations with an impressive eight appearances across four categories: Best Artwork (cover design by Stephen Embleton), Best Short Fiction (three stories), Best Short Non-Fiction (one essay), and Best Shorter Fiction (two novellas). Bacon’s nominated works span diverse subgenres and formats, from the essay “Spec Fic and the Politics of Identity: Finding the Self in Other” in Strange Horizons to novellas “Novic” and “The Nga’phandileh Whisperer: A Sauútiverse Novella.” Tade Thompson earned two nominations in short and shorter fiction categories for “The Flaming Embusen” and “The Apologists,” both published in Clarkesworld and Uncanny Magazine respectively.

The Best Novel category features six African writers: Nnedi Okorafor for “Death of the Author,” M.H. Ayinde for “A Song of Legends Lost,” Nuzo Onoh for “Futility,” Moroccan-American author Laila Lalami for “The Dream Hotel,” Nkereuwem Albert for “The Bone River,” Adam Oyebanji for “Esperance”, and Marvellous Michael Anson for “Firstborn of the Sun”. This represents significant representation in one of the awards’ most competitive categories, demonstrating how African writers are claiming space in mainstream science fiction publishing through major houses like Gollancz, Orbit, and Titan Books. The nominations span horror, epic fantasy, and speculative literary fiction, reflecting the genre diversity within contemporary African speculative writing.

Emerging voices appear prominently in the shorter fiction categories, where Peter Nena’s “Babies Don’t Grow in People” (published in Will This Be A Problem Magazine), Somto Ihezue’s “We Begin Where Infinity Ends,” Adedapo Adeniyi’s “Wanderer,” Wole Talabi’s “Descent,” Chisom Umeh’s “Ancestor’s Gift,” and Rutendo Chidzodzo’s “Let Sleeping Hyenas Lie” earned recognition. South African author C.L. Hellisen secured a nomination for “Shadow Jack,” while Zimbabwean author T.L. Huchu’s “Secrets of the First School” represents African writers in the Best Fiction for Young Readers category. Collections by Cheryl S. Ntumy (“Black Friday”), and Jesutomisin Ipinmoye (“How To Get Rid Of Ants”) complete the impressive showing across categories.

BSFA members can vote for up to four nominations in each category, with voting closing February 19, 2026. The shortlists will be announced ahead of Eastercon 2026 (Iridescence), where winners will be revealed April 3-6 at the Hilton Lanyon Place and Birmingham Metropole. The awards, presented annually since 1970, are voted on by BSFA members and Eastercon attendees.

This year’s longlist demonstrates the growing visibility of African speculative fiction and its integration into the broader British science fiction community, with African writers publishing across prestigious magazines like Clarkesworld, Strange Horizons, and Uncanny Magazine alongside major genre presses.

See full list below: