Lukas Prize Finalists Announced, Spotlighting Books on Race, War, and American Life

The prestigious awards honor deeply reported works in biography, history, and current affairs.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Columbia Journalism School and Harvard's Nieman Foundation have announced the finalists for this year's Lukas Prize Project awards. The selected books tackle topics ranging from a biography of James Baldwin to a searing look at the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as a revelatory history of the American West.

Why it matters

The Lukas Prizes are among the most prestigious honors in nonfiction writing, recognizing works that exemplify the values of investigative journalism and in-depth reporting. The finalists this year cover a diverse range of important subjects, highlighting the power of deeply researched books to shed new light on critical issues facing society.

The details

The finalists include a biography of acclaimed author James Baldwin by Nicholas Boggs, as well as "They Poisoned the World" by Mariah Blake, which provides a personal and immersive account of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Also recognized is "The Golden Road" by William Dalrymple, which reexamines the history of the American West through the lens of a 19th century photograph.

  • The Lukas Prize finalists were announced on February 19, 2026.

The players

Columbia Journalism School

The prestigious journalism school that, along with Harvard's Nieman Foundation, oversees the Lukas Prize Project.

Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University

The organization that, along with Columbia Journalism School, oversees the Lukas Prize Project, honoring excellence in nonfiction writing.

J. Anthony Lukas

The late investigative journalist whose legacy the Lukas Prizes aim to uphold through recognition of deeply reported works of nonfiction.

Nicholas Boggs

The author of a finalist biography of James Baldwin.

Mariah Blake

The author of a finalist book "They Poisoned the World" about the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

William Dalrymple

The author of a finalist book "The Golden Road" that reexamines the history of the American West.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

The winners of the Lukas Prize Project awards will be announced at a ceremony later this year.

The takeaway

The diverse range of finalists for this year's Lukas Prizes underscores the power of deeply researched nonfiction to shed new light on critical issues facing society, from race and war to the complex history of the American experience.