Hôtel Belles Rives Announces Final Shortlist for the Fitzgerald Prize 2026 in Its 15th Edition

From the legendary Bar Fitzgerald at Hôtel Belles Rives—where F. Scott Fitzgerald once lived and wrote, and where history, glamour and cosmopolitan style still converge on the French Riviera — the jury of the Fitzgerald Prize is pleased to announce the shortlisted novels for its 15th edition. The winner will be revealed on June 12, 2026 at Hôtel Belles Rives.

Since its creation, the Fitzgerald Prize has established itself as a distinguished fixture in the literary landscape, annually honoring authors whose writing embodies the boldness and timeless modernity so dear to Fitzgerald. Founded in 2011 at the initiative of Marianne Estène-Chauvin, President of the Francis Scott Fitzgerald Academy and representative of the family that owns the iconic Hôtel Belles Rives in Juan-les-Pins, the prize celebrates a work for the elegance of its style and the originality of its perspective on the world, in the spirit of the great American writer.

The selection brings together novels of varied tones, all driven by a shared quest for meaning and a nuanced exploration of the contemporary world. The shortlisted authors offer readers a literary experience that is both demanding and captivating.

The award ceremony will take place on June 12, 2026, at the start of the summer season, at Hôtel Belles Rives on the Côte d’Azur, where Fitzgerald himself found inspiration as he wrote Tender is the Night.  Over the years, the prize has honored major figures from the literary and artistic scene, including Jay McInerney, Quentin Tarantino, Joyce Carol Oates, and William Boyd. Last year, renowned American author Richard Ford was awarded the prize for his novel Le Paradis des Fous (French title for the 2023 novel Be Mine).

This prestigious day traditionally concludes with the “Writers’ Dinner,” held in the intimate setting of the hotel’s legendary terrace at Cap d’Antibes. This rocky peninsula bordered by the Mediterranean, with its white jetty facing the islands and its symbolic “Green Light,” remains deeply connected to the Fitzgeraldian imagination and to the inspiration of one of the greatest masters of American literature.

NOMINATED WORKS AND AUTHORS IN COMPETITION

• 1979 by Christian Kracht (Swiss), published in February 2026 by Denoël & d’ailleurs Editions;
• L’Amour et la Fureur by Martin Suter (Swiss), published in January 2026 by Phébus Editions;
• La Fêlure by Charlotte Casiraghi (Monégasque), published in January 2026 by Julliard Editions;
• Dans ma peau by Yasmin Zaher (Palestinian), published in October 2025 by L’Olivier Editions;
• Départ(s) by Julian Barnes (British), published in January 2026 by Stock Editions.

THE JURY
Under the presidency of Bertrand de Saint Vincent, the jury selected the above nominations in March 2026. A final session, to be held by mid-May, will determine the winner. The jury is composed of prominent figures united by a shared passion for literature:

Bertrand de Saint Vincent (President)
Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Le Figaro and author of Nocturne Français (2022) and Une certaine désinvolture (Editions du Rocher, 2023), for which he received the Académie française Short Story Prize in 2024. He also writes the column Figure libre.

Daphné Roulier-De Caunes
Print and broadcast journalist. Hosts Les Grands Entretiens on LCP and Radio Classique, and the weekly program Les femmes majeures on Radio Classique.

Marie-Dominique Lelièvre
Journalist for the JDD and author of acclaimed biographies including Le N°5 de Chanel, Saint Laurent: mauvais garçon (2010), Brigitte Bardot: plein la vue (2012), and Françoise Hardy: Étoile distante (2022).

Éric Neuhoff
Elected to the Académie française in 2025. Film critic and journalist for Le Figaro. Prix Renaudot Essay laureate (2019) for (Très) Cher cinéma français and Prix Interallié laureate (1997) for La petite Française. Published Pentothal in January 2025.

François Armanet
Journalist, columnist for Le Nouvel Observateur, filmmaker, and novelist. His most recent book, Vous savez quoi? Le roman d’un journaliste (Editions La Table Ronde, 2024), gathers portraits of figures including Mick Jagger, Jean-Luc Godard, and John le Carré.

Frédéric Beigbeder
Novelist, literary critic, TV host, screenwriter, director, and founder of the Prix de Flore. Published Un homme seul in 2025. Hosts the podcast Conversation chez Lapérouse and writes a weekly literary column in Le Figaro.

Christophe Ono dit Biot
Writer and journalist, agrégé in literature, and author of seven novels translated into approximately twelve languages. His novel Plonger received the Grand Prix du roman de l’Académie française and the Prix Renaudot des lycéens in 2013. Currently Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Le Point.

Hélène Fillières
Actress, screenwriter, and director (Une histoire d’amour, Volontaire, Une confession, 2023). Has translated works by Dorothy Parker for Editions Christian Bourgois and co-wrote the screenplay of Petites mains (2024).