The books running for the 2026 edition
Each year, the 10 members of the jury of the Quais du Polar Readers’ Award, in partnership with Le Figaro, select the best French-language crime novel of the year, from a selection made by the festival’s partner booksellers.
- Petite-ville, by Mélikah Abdelmoumen (Mémoire d’encrier)
- On ne mange pas les cannibales, by Stéphanie Artarit (Belfond)
- Le livre des prodiges, by Olivier Ciechelski (Le Rouergue)
- Les braises de l’incendie, by Éric Decouty (Liana Levi)
- Bleus, Blancs, Rouges, by Benjamin Dierstein (Flammarion)
- 34 m², by Louise Mey (Le Masque)
The jury
Every year, the Quais du Polar festival honours a French-language novel published during the year with the Readers’ Award. The jury is made up of ten readers selected by Quais du Polar, a representative of the Quais du Polar organisation, a representative of Le Figaro and the award-winner from the previous year. Together, they honour the French-language crime novel of the previous year from a selection of six novels pre-selected by the festival’s partner bookshops.
A jury made up of prisoners also selects the award-winner of the Noir behind bars mention.
Since 2025, a Students mention has been awarded as part of a partnership between Quais du Polar and Le Crous.
Previous winners
In previous editions, the prize was awarded to DOA for
