For the first time, the Giller Prize has named a jury made entirely of independent Canadian booksellers in what the prize calls “a radical reimagining” of its selection process.

The jury for the 2026 Giller Prize, announced on Jan. 12, is comprised of seven booksellers from five bookstores across the country.

“As CanLit’s frontline workers, independent booksellers play a vital role in platforming Canadian authors, fostering literary community, and bringing new publications to Canadian readers,” Giller Prize executive director Elana Rabinovitch said in a press release announcing the jury. “Representing eight different provinces and territories, these five booksellers will ensure a pan-Canadian, ‘people’s choice’ sensibility in determining this year’s best works of Canadian fiction.”

The jury members are Dan Macdonald and Lori Cheverie from Atlantic Canada mini-chain Bookmark (with locations in Charlottetown and Halifax, as well as Westminster Books in Fredericton), Danielle and Rupert McNally from Toronto’s Ben McNally Books, Chris Hall from McNally Robinson Booksellers in Winnipeg and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Sarah Klassen from Mosaic Books in Kelowna, B.C., and Jenn Baerg Steyn from Yellowknife Books in Yellowknife.

The prize, now in its 32nd year, has previously included prominent Canadian and international authors on its juries.

Submissions for this year’s prize are now open, and the longlist will be announced in mid-September.

The Giller Prize is without a lead sponsor after parting ways with Scotiabank in early 2025 after a 20-year partnership.

The prize said its search for new sponsors and donors continues.