The Horror Writers Association has revealed the preliminary ballot for the 2026 Bram Stoker Awards, featuring Ryan Coogler and Stephen Graham Jones among the notable contenders. This early list highlights 130 works across thirteen categories, representing the best horror fiction and non-fiction published in the past year.
Overview of the Bram Stoker Awards and Their Categories
The Bram Stoker Awards, held annually by the Horror Writers Association, celebrate outstanding achievements in horror literature. This year’s categories cover a wide range of formats, including anthologies, fiction collections, first novels, graphic novels, long fiction, non-fiction, middle grade novels, standard published novels, poetry, screenplays, short fiction, and young adult novels. Voting for the awards will continue until February 15, with the official nominee announcement following soon after.
Highlighted Authors and Works on the Preliminary Ballot
Among the screenplays on the preliminary list are Ryan Coogler’s Sinners, JT Mollner’s The Long Walk, and Zach Cregger’s Weapons. Stephen Graham Jones features for his novel The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and his short non-fiction essay Why Horror? Pat Cassells also earned recognition for his short non-fiction piece Coney Island’s Last Surviving Classic Haunted Ride. Writer Clay McLeod Chapman has made an impressive mark this year, appearing in four categories, including standard novels and young adult fiction.
Other Noteworthy Entries in Horror Literature
The ballot includes popular titles such as One Bad Night and Other Stories, The October Film Haunt, Grady Hendrix’s Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, and We’re Not Safe Here. Poetry collections 경쟁하는 작품에는 Everything Endless, Strange Flowers, and Slender Bones in Sacred Soil이 포함되어 있으며, 그래픽 노블 부문에는 Athanasia, Ghostbox, and Exquisite Corpses가 이름을 올렸다.
Insights from the Awards Committee
Laura Blackwell, co-chair of the awards committee, explained the selection process, stating,
“The Preliminary Ballot represents the discernment of thirteen awards juries, the work of HWA staffers and awards committee, and the admiration of the entire HWA membership,”
and added,
“We’re delighted to present this curated list of 130 pieces of horror fiction and non-fiction, and I’m excited to see what our voting members select for the Final Ballot.”
What to Expect Next for the Bram Stoker Awards
As the voting period continues, members of the Horror Writers Association will determine which works advance to the final ballot before winners are announced. The diverse slate of nominees underscores a dynamic year in horror writing, maintaining the Bram Stoker Awards’ reputation for recognizing innovative and compelling contributions to the genre.
