2026 Hugo Awards go to Alix E. Harrow, Amal El-Mohtar and more in Anaheim

The 2026 Hugo Awards, Lodestar Award and Astounding Award were announced Sunday at LAcon V in Anaheim, honoring top science fiction and fantasy work across novels, TV, games, art and fan media. A total of 2,492 final ballots were received from convention members, and full voting statistics were posted online.

Why it matters: - The Hugo Awards remain one of science fiction and fantasy’s most watched honors, and the 2026 results highlight the books, shows, games and fan works drawing the genre’s biggest recognition. - The awards also help surface emerging voices through the Lodestar and Astounding prizes.

What happened: - LAcon V announced the 2026 Hugo Awards, Lodestar Award and Astounding Award on Sunday evening, Aug. 30, at the Anaheim Convention Center Arena during the 84th World Science Fiction Convention. - The ceremony recognized work across novels, short fiction, drama, games, editing, art and fan categories. - LAcon V members cast 2,492 final ballots. - Full voting statistics are available in the official results.

The details: - Best Novel went to The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow. - Best Novella went to The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar. - Best Novelette went to “Never Eaten Vegetables” by H.H. Pak. - Best Short Story went to “In My Country” by Thomas Ha. - Best Series went to Old Man’s War by John Scalzi. - Best Graphic Story or Comic went to A Wizard of Earthsea: A Graphic Novel, written by Ursula K. Le Guin and adapted and illustrated by Fred Fordham. - Best Related Work went to Inventing the Renaissance by Ada Palmer. - Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form went to Sinners, with screenplay and direction by Ryan Coogler. - Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form went to Murderbot: “All Systems Red,” written by Paul Weitz and Chris Weitz and directed by Roseanne Liang. - Best Game or Interactive Work went to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, developed by Sandfall Interactive and published by Kepler Interactive. - Best Editor Short Form went to Neil Clarke. - Best Editor Long Form went to Diana M. Pho. - Best Professional Artist went to John Picacio. - Best Semiprozine went to Uncanny Magazine. - Best Fanzine went to nerds of a feather, flock together. - Best Fancast went to Hugo, Girl!. - Best Fan Writer went to Jason Sanford. - Best Fan Artist went to Yuumei. - Best Poem went to “Hex Supply Customer Support Log” by Elis Montgomery. - The Lodestar Award for Best YA Book went to Coffeeshop in an Alternate Universe by C.B. Lee. - The Astounding Award for Best New Writer went to Antonia Hodgson, in her first year of eligibility.

Between the lines: - The winners show the Hugos’ broad reach beyond novels, with strong recognition for television, games and fan-produced media. - The results also reinforce the genre’s ongoing spread across print, screen and interactive storytelling.

What's next: - The Hugo results will continue to circulate among publishers, creators and readers as a sales and prestige marker. - LAcon V’s published vote totals give fans and industry observers a deeper look at how the field voted this year.

The bottom line: - The 2026 Hugo cycle crowned a wide mix of established names and newer voices, with The Everlasting and The River Has Roots among the night’s biggest winners.