presented by
The 2026 Tournament of Books was presented by Field Notes, and the Rooster went to Flesh by David Szalay, who declined the live (rescued) rooster for his award, but he did have this to say:
I’m flattered and honoured to hear that Flesh was the last book standing, no doubt bloodied but hopefully unbowed, at the end of this wonderfully eccentric but also deeply serious tournament. Many thanks—and apologies that I’m not in a position to accept a rooster!
Relive the Action
Play-in Match
March 6 • Spencer Williams
If You Love It, Let It Kill You v. The Mind Reels v. We Love You, Bunny
Opening Round
March 9 • Tomi Onabanjo
What We Can Know v. The Passenger Seat
March 10 • Nick Bredie
Endling v. The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
March 11 • Sarah Bari
The Wilderness v. Metallic Realms
March 12 • Sarah McCarry
Too Soon v. The Unveiling
March 13 • Alex Brown
Katabasis v. The Burning Heart of the World
March 16 • Natalie Shapero
The Catch v. The Director
March 17 • Sam Macon
Flesh v. Blob
March 18 • Lilliam Rivera
If You Love It, Let It Kill You v. The Ten Year Affair
Quarterfinals
March 19 • Geoff Manaugh
The Passenger Seat v. Endling
March 20 • Deesha Philyaw
The Wilderness v. The Unveiling
March 23 • Cassandra Lane
Katabasis v. The Catch
March 24 • Neelanjana Banerjee
Flesh v. The Ten Year Affair
Semifinals
March 25 • Danny Abel
The Passenger Seat v. The Wilderness
March 26 • Susannah Breslin
The Catch v. Flesh
Zombie Round
March 27 • Leon Hendrix
The Burning Heart of the World v. The Passenger Seat
March 30 • Katya Apekina
Endling v. Flesh
Championship
March 31 • All judges
The Passenger Seat v. Flesh