The selection of Audition as the 2026 winner was made by a panel of accomplished judges comprising Nicola Griffith, Mat Johnson, Darcie Little Badger, Fonda Lee, and Peter Rock. In their official joint statement announcing the victory, the panel elaborated on the profound impact of Adam’s novel and the specific qualities that earned it the unanimous praise of the committee.
"Adam uses innovative narrative structure and impeccable prose to do what SFF—what only SFF at its best—can do: make metaphor concrete to completely change our understanding not just of what is happening in the narrative but also how today’s society works," the judges stated. They went on to describe the emotional and thematic weight of the narrative, noting how the story evolves for the reader. "The book gradually assumes the urgency of survival as three people whom society has deemed worthless find their way back to themselves, each other, and hope. An astonishing and ultimately joyful work."
The Ursula K. Le Guin Prize for Fiction was created not merely to celebrate exceptional writing, but to highlight works that actively engage with the world’s complexities while offering pathways toward a better future. By honoring Pip Adam’s Audition, the foundation underscores the vital role that inventive, visionary literature plays in examining modern society. The narrative techniques praised by the judges demonstrate how speculative fiction and innovative storytelling can act as powerful mirrors reflecting the flaws of our current systems while simultaneously illuminating pathways toward empathy, survival, and communal resilience.
Along with the immense literary prestige that accompanies the honor, Pip Adam will take home the $25,000 prize awarded by the foundation. Following today’s announcement, readers, supporters, and literary enthusiasts can watch Adam’s official acceptance speech online via the foundation’s shared resources, offering a personal window into the author’s reaction to receiving such a significant accolade in honor of one of literature’s most revered voices.
