2026 Audie Awards® FINALISTS
Audiobook of the Year | Adaptation/Original Work | Autobiography/Memoir | Best Fiction Narrator | Best Non-Fiction Narrator | Business/Personal Development | Ensemble Performance | Erotica | Español – Spanish Language | Faith-Based Fiction or Non-Fiction | Fantasy | Fiction | History/Biography | Horror | Literary Fiction & Classics | Middle Grade | Mystery | Narration by the Author | New Voice Award: Judges Category |Non-Fiction |Production & Sound Design | Romance | Science Fiction | Short Stories/Collections |Thriller/Suspense |Young Adult |Young Listeners
AUDIOBOOK OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
The Devil Reached Toward the Sky
(Audio)
By Garrett M. Graff
Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, a full cast, and Garrett M. Graff
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Pride and Prejudice
By Jane Austen and Lulu Raczka
Narrated by Marisa Abela, Harris Dickinson, Glenn Close, Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Bill Nighy, Sophie Wilde, Jessie Buckley, Toheeb Jimoh, Patricia Allison, Bertie Carvel, Leah Hazard, David Gyasi, Rosalind Eleazar, and a full cast
Published by Audible Originals
Shield of Sparrows: Book 1
(Audio)
By Devney Perry
Narrated by Samantha Brentmoor and Jason Clarke
Published by Tantor Audio, a division of RBMedia
Sunrise on the Reaping
(Audio)
By Suzanne Collins
Narrated by Jefferson White
Published by Scholastic Audio
Wild Dark Shore
(Audio)
By Charlotte McConaghy
Narrated by Saskia Maarleveld, Katherine Littrell, Cooper Mortlock, and Steve West
Published by Macmillan Audio
ADAPTATION/ORIGINAL WORK FINALISTS (NEW)
The Big Fix: A Jack Bergin Mystery
By John Mankiewicz, Jamie Napoli, Daniel Pyne, Katie Pyne, and Aaron Lipstadt
Narrated by Jon Hamm, Ana de la Reguera, Alia Shawkat, Omar Epps, Erin Moriarty, Sosie Bacon, John Slattery, and a full cast
Published by Audible Originals
The Making of Jackson Parrish
(Audio)
By Liv Constantine
Narrated by Ari Fliakos, Suzanne Elise Freeman, and Scott Brick
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Shot Clock
By Andrew Bourelle
Narrated by Emma Love
Published by Dreamscape Media, a division of RBMedia
What Could Go Wrong?
Written and narrated by Scott Z. Burns
Published by Audible Originals
Doctor Who - Hooklight 1
By Tim Foley
Narrated by Peter Davison, Paul McGann, Janet Fielding, Sarah Sutton, Matthew Waterhouse, Kieran Bew, Alan Cox, Ruby Crepin-Glyne, David Holt, Celia Imrie, Harriet Kershaw, Shogo Miyakita, David Shaw-Parker, Theo Solomon, and Issy Van Randwyck
Published by Big Finish Productions
AUTOBIOGRAPHY/MEMOIR FINALISTS
Code Name: Pale Horse
(Audio)
By Scott Payne
Narrated by Scott Payne with Michelle Shephard
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
The Heart of a Woman
(Audio)
By Maya Angelou
Narrated by Uzo Aduba
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Matriarch
(Audio)
By Tina Knowles
Narrated by Tina Knowles, Beyoncé, Solange, Kelly Rowland, and Angie Beyincé
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Nobody's Girl
(Audio)
By Virginia Roberts Giuffre
Narrated by Thérèse Plummer and Gabra Zackman
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
BEST NON-FICTION NARRATOR FINALISTS
BUSINESS/PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FINALISTS
Breaking Trauma Bonds with Narcissists and Psychopaths
(Audio)
By Shahida Arabi
Narrated by Rachel Perry
Published by Tantor Audio, a division of RBMedia
The Let Them Theory
Written and narrated by Mel Robbins
Published by Audible Studios
The Next Conversation
(Audio)
Written and narrated by Jefferson Fisher
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Perseverance > Endurance
By Blayne Smith and Brandon Young
Narrated by Joe Knezevich
Published by Brilliance Publishing
ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE FINALISTS (NEW)
A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe
(Audio)
By Mahogany L. Browne
Narrated by Emana Rachelle, Ozzie Jacobs, Elena Rey, Mahogany L. Browne, Amir Royale, Nile Bullock, Andrea Emmes, Brandon Miles, Kiebpoli Calnek, Ali Nasser, Tyla Collier, Marie-Francoise Theodore, Ron Butler, and Chantelle Ramdeen
Published by Penguin Random House AudioA Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe
By Mahogany L. Browne
Narrated by Emana Rachelle, Ozzie Jacobs, Elena Rey, Mahogany L. Browne, Amir Royale, Nile Bullock, Andrea Emmes, Brandon Miles, Kiebpoli Calnek, Ali Nasser, Tyla Collier, Marie-Francoise Theodore, Ron Butler, and Chantelle Ramdeen
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
The Correspondent
(Audio)
By Virginia Evans
Narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed, Jane Oppenheimer, Carly Robins, Jeff Ebner, David Pittu, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Mark Bramhall, Petrea Burchard, Robert Petkoff, Kimberly Farr, Jim Seybert, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, Jade Wheeler, Peter Ganim, and Steve West
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Dragon Day
By Bob Proehl
Narrated by Hayley Atwell, Michael Chiklis, Aldis Hodge, Greta Lee, Jimmi Simpson, and a full cast
Published by Audible Originals
Heartwood
(Audio)
By Amity Gaige
Narrated by Justine Lupe, Alma Cuervo, Rebecca Lowman, Ali Andre Ali, Cary Hite, and Helen Laser
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Soundtrack
(Audio)
By Jason Reynolds
Narrated by Nile Bullock, Mekhi Hewling, Jade Williams, Brandon Miles, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Amir Royale, Jasmin Richardson, Christopher Grant, Khaya Fraites, Nadine Simmons, Robb Moreira, We Ani, Rocky Anicette, Brandiss Seward, Siho Ellsmore, Tyrell Buckner, Gina Daniels, Karen Murray, Jonathan Beville, Karla Moore, and Ronald Peet
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
EROTICA FINALISTS
American Queen
(Audio)
By Sierra Simone
Narrated by Sophie Eastlake, Teddy Hamilton, Rex Rhys, Shane East, and Valerie Azlynn
Published by Audiobrary
Axes and O's
(Audio)
By Kayla Grosse
Narrated by Stella Hunter, Stephen Dexter, and Grayson Owens
Published by Forever
House of Rayne
(Audio)
By Harley LaRoux
Narrated by Allie Shae and Jaclyn Kelso
Published by Podium Audio
The Secrets We Hide
(Audio)
By Berlin Wick
Narrated by Sean Masters and Branden Davis-Butler
Published by Wick Publications
ESPAÑOL - SPANISH LANGUAGE FINALISTS
Apocalipsis Z - El principio del fin
By Manel Loureiro
Narrated by Javier Rey, Maggie Civantos, José María de Tavira, Manuel Chacón, Oleg Kricunova, Marta Barriuso, Peter Nikolas, Rosalía Castro, Mercedes Castro, Manuel de Andrés, David García Palencia, Oscar Goikoetxea, Sabela Mascuñana, Daniel Méndez
Published by Audible Originals
(Cómo ser una) Gorda Libre
By Miriam Lara-Mejia and Adonde Media
Narrated by Miriam Lara-Mejia
Published by Audible Originals
El hombre
By Guillermo Arriaga
Narrated by Javier Poza, Noé Velázquez, Dan Osorio, Chava Reyes, Pilar Escandón, Ariel Sainz
Published by Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial México
Esperanza - La Autobiografía
(Audio)
By Pope Francis
Narrated by Gerardo Prat
Published by Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial S.A.U.
La Celestina
(Audio)
By Fernando de Rojas
Narrated by Israel Elejalde, Natalia Huarte, María Pujalte, Pedro Casablanc, Francesco Carril, Marta Larralde, Eugenio Gómez, Juan Paños, Rebeca Hernando, Charo Soria, Paula Iwasaki, Arturo Querejeta, Jaime Soler Huete, Raúl García Arrondo, Pablo Ibáñez Durán, Daniel Ortiz
Published by Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial S.A.U.
FAITH-BASED FICTION OR NON-FICTION FINALISTS
The Bible Recap for Kids
(Audio)
By Tara-Leigh Cobble
Narrated by Emma Faye
Published by Christian Audio
Embergold
By Rachelle Nelson
Narrated by Aimee Lilly
Published by Oasis Audio
Every Deadly Suspicion
(Audio)
By Janice Cantore
Narrated by Jeannie Sheneman
Published by Tyndale Fiction
The Last Keeper, The Dream Keeper Saga Book 5
(Audio)
By Kathryn Butler
Narrated by Shannon McManus
Published by Crossway/Good News Publishing
The Rebel Girls of Rome
By Jordyn Taylor
Narrated by Jennifer Jill Araya and Jesse Vilinsky
Published by HarperAudio
Silent Horizons
(Audio)
By Chad Robichaux and Jack Stewart
Narrated by Ray Porter
Published by Tyndale Fiction
FANTASY FINALISTS
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil
(Audio)
By V. E. Schwab
Narrated by Marisa Calin, Katie Leung, and Julia Whelan
Published by Macmillan Audio
The Everlasting
(Audio)
By Alix E. Harrow
Narrated by Sid Sagar and Moira Quirk
Published by Macmillan Audio
The Knight and the Moth
(Audio)
By Rachel Gillig
Narrated by Samantha Hydeson
Published by Hachette Audio
A Ruin, Great and Free
(Audio)
By Cadwell Turnbull
Narrated by Dion Graham
Published by Blackstone Publishing
FICTION FINALISTS
Atmosphere
(Audio)
By Taylor Jenkins Reid
Narrated by Kristen DiMercurio, Julia Whelan, and Taylor Jenkins Reid
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Broken Country
(Audio)
By Clare Leslie Hall
Narrated by Hattie Morahan
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
The Correspondent
(Audio)
By Virginia Evans
Narrated by Maggi-Meg Reed, Jane Oppenheimer, Carly Robins, Jeff Ebner, David Pittu, Chris Andrew Ciulla, Mark Bramhall, Petrea Burchard, Robert Petkoff, Kimberly Farr, Jim Seybert, Cerris Morgan-Moyer, Jade Wheeler, Peter Ganim, and Steve West
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
The Favorites
(Audio)
By Layne Fargo
Narrated by Christine Lakin, Louisa Zhu, Amy Landon, Elena Rey, Valerie Rose Lohman, Suzanne Toren, Graham Halstead, Julia Emelin, Layne Fargo, Eric Yang, Johnny Weir, and Brandon Perea
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
HISTORY/BIOGRAPHY FINALISTS
The Fate of the Day
(Audio)
By Rick Atkinson
Narrated by Grover Gardner and Rick Atkinson
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
The Spinach King: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty
(Audio)
By John Seabrook
Narrated by Dion Graham
Published by HighBridge Audio, a division of RBMedia
HORROR FINALISTS
Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng
(Audio)
By Kylie Lee Baker
Narrated by Natalie Naudus
Published by HarperAudio
Breathe In, Bleed Out
(Audio)
By Brian McAuley
Narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker
Published by Sourcebooks
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
(Audio)
By Stephen Graham Jones
Narrated by Shane Ghostkeeper, Marin Ireland, and Owen Teale
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
LITERARY FICTION & CLASSICS FINALISTS
33 Place Brugmann
(Audio)
By Alice Austen
Narrated by Shiromi Arserio, Jilly Bond, Nicholas Boulton, Billie Fulford-Brown, Danielle Cohen, Raphael Corkhill, Matthew Lloyd Davies, James Meunier, Joshua Riley, and Simon Slater
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
The Director
(Audio)
By Daniel Kehlmann
Narrated by Nicholas Boulton
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
The Emperor of Gladness
(Audio)
By Ocean Vuong
Narrated by James Aaron Oh
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated
(Audio)
By James Goodhand
Narrated by Peter Noble
Published by Harlequin Audio
The Sound and the Fury
(Audio)
By William Faulkner
Narrated by Edoardo Ballerini, Shaun Taylor-Corbett, Bronson Pinchot, and Robin Miles
Published by Blackstone Publishing
MIDDLE GRADE FINALISTS
The Weirdies 3: Maybe This is a Bit Too Weird
By Michael Buckley
Narrated by Helena Bonham Carter
Published by Audible Originals
MYSTERY FINALISTS
Gone Before Goodbye
(Audio)
By Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben
Narrated by Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Kiff VandenHeuvel, Suehyla El-Attar Young, Peter Ganim, Saskia Maarleveld, and James Fouhey
Published by Hachette Audio
Gray Dawn
(Audio)
By Walter Mosley
Narrated by Michael Boatman and Walter Mosley
Published by Hachette Audio
Secret Sister
By Sarah A. Denzil
Narrated by Jessica Gunning, Sacha Dhawan, Joanne Froggatt, Nathaniel Curtis, and Hopi Grace
Published by Audible Originals
Vera Wong's Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man)
(Audio)
By Jesse Q. Sutanto
Narrated by Eunice Wong
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
NON-FICTION FINALISTS
Death in the Jungle
(Audio)
By Candace Fleming
Narrated by Karen Murray
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Everything Is Tuberculosis
(Audio)
Written and narrated by John Green
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
A Fine Line Between Stupid and Clever
(Audio)
Written and narrated by Rob Reiner, Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, and Harry Shearer
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Separation of Church and Hate
(Audio)
Written and narrated by John Fugelsang
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
PRODUCTION & SOUND DESIGN FINALISTS (NEW)
Dragon Day
By Bob Proehl
Narrated by Hayley Atwell, Michael Chiklis, Aldis Hodge, Greta Lee, Jimmi Simpson, and a full cast
Published by Audible Originals
King Sorrow
(Audio)
By Joe Hill
Narrated by Ari Fliakos, Dominic Hoffman, Ian Shaw, Jaime Lamchick, Kate Mulgrew, Kevin Stillwell, Kristen Ariza, Kristen Sieh, Marin Ireland, Micky Shiloah, Mike Ortego, Pete Simonelli, Peter Ganim, Tim Sample, and Virginia Kull
Published by HarperAudio
Millie Fleur Saves the Night
(Audio)
By Christy Mandin
Narrated by Elizabeth Knowelden
Published by Scholastic Audio
Soundtrack
(Audio)
By Jason Reynolds
Narrated by Nile Bullock, Mekhi Hewling, Jade Williams, Brandon Miles, Ryan Vincent Anderson, Amir Royale, Jasmin Richardson, Christopher Grant, Khaya Fraites, Nadine Simmons, Robb Moreira, We Ani, Rocky Anicette, Brandiss Seward, Siho Ellsmore, Tyrell Buckner, Gina Daniels, Karen Murray, Jonathan Beville, Karla Moore, and Ronald Peet
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Under Milk Wood
(Audio)
By Dylan Thomas
Narrated by Iwan Rheon, Heledd Gywnn, Tim Treloar, Gareth Pierce, Ruby Valentino, Betsan Llwyd, Eiry Thomas, Elena Valentine, Aneirin Hughes, Michael Grinter, Elsie Gallacher, Geriant Pickard, Lowri Gwynne, Bronwen Price, and Hannah Lloyd
Published by SNR Audio
ROMANCE FINALISTS
Great Big Beautiful Life
(Audio)
By Emily Henry
Narrated by Julia Whelan
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
King of Envy
(Audio)
By Ana Huang
Narrated by Jason Clark and Nia Serge
Published by One Night Stand Studios x Ana Huang
Looking for Group
(Audio)
By Alexis Hall
Narrated by Will Watt, Sam Newton, Morag Sims, Rich Keeble, Matt Godfrey, and Chris Devon
Published by Sourcebooks
Say You'll Remember Me
(Audio)
By Abby Jimenez
Narrated by Christine Lakin and Matt Lanter
Published by Hachette Audio
SCIENCE FICTION FINALISTS
All-Star Superman
(Audio)
By Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely; Adapted by Meghan Fitzmartin
Narrated by Marc Thompson, Kristen Sieh, Christopher Smith, Jessica Almasy, Matthew Amendt, Pete Bradbury, Scott Brick, Brennan Brown, Will Damron, Sean Kenin Elias-Reyes, Lauren Ezzo, Robert Fass, James Fouhey, Todd Haberkorn, Neil Hellegers, Dominic Hoffman, Đavid Lee Huỳnh, Joshua Kane, January LaVoy, Saskia Maarleveld, Brandon McInnis, Ray Porter, Salli Saffioti, Catherine Taber, and Oliver Wyman
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
The Dark Forest
(Audio)
By Cixin Liu; translated by Joel Martinsen
Narrated by Jess Hong
Published by Macmillan Audio
Flybot
By Dennis E. Taylor
Narrated by Ray Porter
Published by Audible Originals
New Arcadia: Judgment Day
(Audio)
By Eric Jason Martin
Narrated by Eric Jason Martin, Robert Patrick, Matthew Mercer, Erika Ishii, Sam Riegel, Dave Fennoy, Marin Ireland, January LaVoy, James Urbaniak, Emily Woo Zeller, and a Full Cast
Published by Sound Off Productions
Simultaneous
(Audio)
By Eric Heisserer
Narrated by Ray Porter, Marin Ireland, and Stephanie Sheh
Published by Macmillan Audio
The Two Lies of Faven Sythe
(Audio)
By Megan E O'Keefe
Narrated by Zara Ramm
Published by Hachette Audio
SHORT STORIES/COLLECTIONS FINALISTS
Alibis
(Audio)
By Freida McFadden, Sally Hepworth, David Lagercrantz, Chris Bohjalian, Chad Zunker, and Wanda M. Morris
Narrated by Lauryn Allman, Anthea Greco, Graham Halstead, Eric Altheide, Soneela Nankani, Pete Simonelli, Amara Jasper, and Susannah Jones
Published by Brilliance Publishing
Animal Bodies: On Death, Desire, and Other Difficulties
(Audio)
By Suzanne Roberts
Narrated by Julia Whelan
Published by Audiobrary
The End of the World as We Know It: New Tales of Stephen King's The Stand
(Audio)
Edited by Christopher Golden and Brian Keene
Narrated by Sean Patrick Hopkins and Adenrele Ojo
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
The Illustrated Man
(Audio)
By Ray Bradbury
Narrated by Prentice Onayemi, Ari Fliakos, and Marin Ireland
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
THRILLER/SUSPENSE FINALISTS
Beautiful Ugly
(Audio)
By Alice Feeney
Narrated by Richard Armitage and Tuppence Middleton
Published by Macmillan Audio
Don't Let Him In
(Audio)
By Lisa Jewell
Narrated by Richard Armitage, Joanne Froggatt, Tamaryn Payne, Gemma Whelan, Louise Brealey, and Patience Tomlinson
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio
Everyone Is Lying to You
(Audio)
By Jo Piazza
Narrated by Rachel F. Hirsch, Sarah Reny, Vas Eli and Saskia Maarleveld
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
To Die For
(Audio)
By David Baldacci
Narrated by Zach Villa, Mela Lee, Cassandra Morris, Rena Marie Villano, Christine Lakin, Will Collyer, Kiff Vandenheuvel, and Erin Bennett
Published by Hachette Audio
YOUNG ADULT FINALISTS
Lady or the Tiger
(Audio)
By Heather M. Herrman
Narrated by Sophie Amoss
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
The Otherwhere Post
(Audio)
By Emily J. Taylor
Narrated by Barrie Kreinik
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Sunrise on the Reaping
(Audio)
By Suzanne Collins
Narrated by Jefferson White
Published by Scholastic Audio
Under the Same Stars
(Audio)
By Libba Bray
Narrated by Jeremy Carlisle Parker, January LaVoy, and Major Curda
Published by Macmillan Audio
YOUNG LISTENERS FINALISTS
Benny on the Case
By Wesley King
Narrated by P.J. Ochlan
Published by Dreamscape Media, a division of RBMedia
How the Word Is Passed
(Audio)
By Clint Smith and Sonja Cherry-Paul
Narrated by Clint Smith
Published by Hachette Audio
Prince Among Slaves
(Audio)
By N. H. Senzai
Narrated by Junior Nyong'o and N. H. Senzai
Published by Penguin Random House Audio
Secrets of the Purple Pearl
(Audio)
By Kate McKinnon
Narrated by Kate McKinnon and Emily Lynne
Published by Hachette Audio
