Fourteen novels and short story collections have made it to the longlist for the 2025 Giller Prize, a prestigious Canadian literary award with a $100,000 prize. The lineup includes a diverse array of subjects, such as a train disaster from the 1800s, the experiences of individuals working in a nail salon, and the tales of abducted children in Uganda. Notably, three past winners of the award are in contention this year. André Alexis, who won in 2015 for “Fifteen Dogs,” is now longlisted for his short story collection “Other Worlds.” Ian Williams, the 2019 winner for “Reproduction,” is on the list for his novel “You’ve Changed.” Souvankham Thammavongsa, the 2020 Giller Prize recipient for “How To Pronounce Knife,” is recognized for her novel “Pick A Colour.”
Several authors with connections to the CBC Literary Prizes are also on the longlist. Joanna Cockerline, nominated for “Still,” previously secured second place in the CBC Short Story Prize in 2002. Otoniya J. Okot Bitek, longlisted for “We, The Kindling,” was previously a contender for the 2018 CBC Poetry Prize. Amanda Leduc, longlisted for “Wild Life,” has been recognized by the CBC Short Story Prize in 2014 and 2019, as well as the CBC Nonfiction Prize in 2014.
The full 2025 Giller Prize longlist includes works from authors like André Alexis, Mona Awad, Kirti Bhadresa, Otoniya J. Okot Bitek, Eddy Boudel Tan, Fanny Britt, Joanna Cockerline, Emma Donoghue, Holly Kennedy, Emma Knight, Amanda Leduc, Bindu Suresh, Souvankham Thammavongsa, and Ian Williams. The longlist was selected by a panel including jury chair Dionne Irving, and jurors Loghan Paylor and Deepa Rajagopalan.
The shortlist for the 2025 Giller Prize will be revealed on October 6, with the winner announced on November 17. The award ceremony will be broadcast on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, and CBC Listen. Past winners of the Giller Prize include renowned authors such as Suzette Mayr, Esi Edugyan, Michael Redhill, Margaret Atwood, Mordecai Richler, Alice Munro, and Madeleine Thien. The Giller Prize was established in 1994 by Toronto businessman Jack Rabinovitch in memory of his late wife, Doris Giller.