2026 Prix Goncourt

Yesterday, Tuesday 3 November 2026, the French writer Philippe Jaenada was awarded the Prix Goncourt for his novel “L’inconnue du Quai de Javel” (published by Flammarion).

Established in 1903 by the brothers Jules and Edmond de Goncourt, the Prix Goncourt is France’s most prestigious literary prize, awarded annually to the “best work of prose fiction” published during the previous year.

In “L’inconnue du Quai de Javel”, the author, as in his previous books, focuses on an unsolved crime story – in this case, the tragic disappearance of Louise Cansot, one of the most popular models among post-war Montparnasse artists, who was murdered on 7 September 1949 at the age of just 29.

On the same day, following the Goncourt Prize, the Renaudot Prize was awarded to François-Henri Désérable for his novel “Le Palais” (published by Gallimard).