TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwanese writer Yang Shuang-zi’s (楊双子) novel “Taiwan Travelogue” has been shortlisted for the 2026 International Booker Prize, marking the first time a Taiwanese author has reached the final stage.

CNA reported that the Booker Prize Foundation announced on Tuesday that the novel is one of six titles selected from a longlist of 13 works. The longlist was narrowed down from 128 submissions.

The annual prize honors fiction translated into English and published in the UK or Ireland. Each shortlisted author and translator receives £5,000 (NT$200,000), while the winners share a £50,000 prize to be announced on May 19.

The foundation said the shortlist marks a historic first for Taiwan and reflects growing global interest in Taiwanese literature. A win would be Taiwan’s first in the competition’s history, per UDN.

This year’s shortlist features writers and translators from eight countries, with most being women. The selected works span five original languages, highlighting diverse literary voices.

“Taiwan Travelogue” is a historical novel set in 1938 that explores friendship and colonial identity through a culinary journey across Taiwan. The book has been translated into multiple languages, including English, Japanese, and Korean.

Its English translator, Lin King (金翎), previously won the National Book Award for Translated Literature for the same work, marking another milestone for Taiwanese literature.

Culture Minister Li Yuan (李遠) congratulated Yang and praised her for raising Taiwan’s international profile through literature. The culture ministry said government grants and translation programs helped support the novel’s global reach.