The Horror Writers Association has unveiled the preliminary ballot for the 2026 Bram Stoker Awards, featuring a shortlist of 130 works across multiple categories. This early selection arrives after careful evaluation by numerous juries and committees, setting the stage for the final nominations to be announced next month.
Diverse Categories Highlight Range of Horror Writing
The awards are divided into thirteen distinct categories that honor accomplishments in anthologies, fiction collections, debut novels, graphic novels, long fiction and non-fiction, middle grade and young adult novels, poetry, screenplays, and short fiction and non-fiction. Voting on the preliminary ballot will continue until February 15, when the official nominees will be revealed.
Renowned Creators Feature Prominently on the Shortlist
Among the notable figures on this year’s shortlist are Ryan Coogler, JT Mollner, and Zach Cregger, recognized for their screenplays on Sinners, The Long Walk, and Weapons, respectively. Stephen Graham Jones appears as a contender with his novel The Buffalo Hunter Hunter and his short non-fiction piece Why Horror? Pat Cassells is also included for his short non-fiction work titled Coney Island’s Last Surviving Classic Haunted Ride. Clay McLeod Chapman has earned recognition across four categories, including entries in the standard and young adult novel divisions.
Noteworthy Works in Horror Fiction, Poetry, and Graphic Novels
This year’s list also boasts 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 like Everything Endless, Strange Flowers, and Slender Bones in Sacred Soil have received recognition alongside graphic novels including Athanasia, Ghostbox, and Exquisite Corpses.
HWA Committee Reflects on the Selection Process
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,
said Laura Blackwell, co-chair of the awards committee.
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.
Looking Ahead to the Final Nominee Announcements
As the Horror Writers Association advances toward the next phase of voting, the Bram Stoker Awards continue to highlight a wide array of exceptional voices in horror literature and media. The selections of Ryan Coogler Bram Stoker efforts alongside Stephen Graham Jones’s celebrated works signal strong competition. The final nominations, stemming from this comprehensive shortlist, will shape the landscape of horror recognition for 2026.
