Lukas Prize Finalists Announced, Spotlighting Baldwin Biography and Ukraine War Book

A biography of James Baldwin and a personal account of the Russian invasion of Ukraine are among the finalists for the prestigious Lukas Prizes.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Columbia Journalism School and Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University have announced the finalists for this year's Lukas Prize Project awards. The $10,000 Lukas Book Prize finalists include a deep dive into the war in Ukraine, a revelatory history of the American West, and a look at the business of arson. The $10,000 Mark Lynton History Prize finalists feature a biography of James Baldwin and a book based on a 19th century photograph. Work-in-Progress Prize finalists will each receive $25,000.

Why it matters

The Lukas Prizes are highly prestigious awards that honor excellence in investigative journalism, literary nonfiction, and historical writing. The finalists announced showcase a diverse range of important topics and perspectives, from the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to the history of the American West. These works have the potential to significantly shape public understanding and discourse around these critical issues.

The details

The Lukas Book Prize finalists include Danielle Leavitt's 'By the Second Spring: Seven Lives and One Year of the War in Ukraine,' Bench Ansfield's 'Born in Flames: The Business of Arson and the Remaking of the American City,' Rich Benjamin's 'Talk to Me: Lessons from a Family Forged by History,' Mariah Blake's 'They Poisoned the World: Life and Death in the Age of Forever Chemicals,' and Jeff Hobbs' 'Seeking Shelter: A Working Mother, Her Children, and a Story of Homelessness in America.' The Mark Lynton History Prize finalists are Nicholas Boggs' 'Baldwin: A Love Story,' Martha A. Sandweiss' 'The Girl in the Middle,' Sven Beckert's 'Capitalism: A Global History,' William Dalrymple's 'The Golden Road: How Ancient India Transformed the World,' and Siddharth Kara's 'The Zorg: A Tale of Greed and Murder That Inspired the Abolition of Slavery.'

  • The finalists were announced on February 19, 2026.

The players

Columbia Journalism School

The journalism school at Columbia University that, along with the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, oversees the Lukas Prize Project.

Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University

The journalism foundation at Harvard University that, along with the Columbia Journalism School, oversees the Lukas Prize Project.

Lukas Prize Project

The awards program that honors excellence in investigative journalism, literary nonfiction, and historical writing, established in honor of the late investigative journalist J. Anthony Lukas.

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What’s next

The winners of the Lukas Prizes will be announced at a later date.

The takeaway

The diverse range of finalists for this year's Lukas Prizes highlights the continued importance of rigorous, literary nonfiction and historical writing that tackles critical issues facing society. These works have the potential to shape public understanding and discourse around topics like the war in Ukraine, the history of the American West, and the business of arson.