M. John Harrison wins the 2026 Booker Prize

British author M. John Harrison has been awarded the 2026 Booker Prize for his novel "The End of Everything," which explores themes of artificial intelligence set against the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic Britain.

The 81-year-old Harrison, who was announced as the winner at a ceremony held in London, also received a £50,000 cash prize. The work, which is the author's 13th novel, centers on characters struggling against mysterious objects called "iGhetti" that can mimic humans, set along the British coast.

Jury chair Mary Beard praised the literary ambition of the work and its connection to contemporary concerns regarding artificial intelligence. Harrison was selected from a shortlist that included names such as Marlon James, Douglas Stuart, Elizabeth Strout, Luke Kennard, and Rebecca Perry, earning the title of the oldest winner of the award.