The Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 is a well-known name among international writing competitions. It recognizes original short fiction by writers from across the Commonwealth. If you are 18 or older and a citizen of a Commonwealth country, you are eligible to take part in writing contest. The overall winner receives £5,000, while five regional winners each get £2,500. It’s free to enter and open to anyone, whether you are a student, teacher, or part-time writer making it an exciting chance to share your voice on a global level.
This global short story contest is designed to discover talented writers who may not yet have a platform. You don not need any professional writing experience or academic background just a powerful, unpublished story and a desire to tell it. The short story writing competition promotes equality and creativity, and it draws thousands of entries from around the world each year. If you’re looking to make your mark in the writing world, this could be a major step forward in your literary journey.
One thing that sets this literary prize for emerging writers apart is its regional diversity. A panel of expert judges, representing five Commonwealth regions Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific reviews the stories. Winning entries are published by Granta, giving authors a respected platform and international exposure. Writers can submit stories in English or a number of approved regional languages, making this prize accessible to a wide range of storytellers with unique perspectives and voices.
Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026:
Host Country:
- United Kingdom.
Host University:
- Commonwealth Foundation.
Benefits of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026:
- Each regional winner will get a £2,500 cash prize.
- One overall winner will receive a total prize of £5,000.
- Winning stories will be published in Granta, a respected international literary magazine.
- Shortlisted stories will also be featured in adda, the online magazine of the Commonwealth Foundation.
- If a winning story is translated into English, the translator will receive £750.
- Writers will gain global recognition and have their work shared with a wide audience.
- A chance to represent your country or region in one of the top international writing competitions
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Eligibility Criteria of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026:
- Open to citizens of all Commonwealth countries
- You must be 18 years or older
- Submit an original, unpublished short story
- Your story must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words
- You can write in English or one of the accepted languages
- The competition welcomes writers from all backgrounds and identities
Prize Regions:
- Africa: Includes countries such as Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, and others.
- Asia: Includes countries such as India, Pakistan, Malaysia, and others.
- Canada and Europe: Includes Canada, the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and others.
- Caribbean: Includes countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and others.
- Pacific: Includes Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and others.
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How to Apply for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026:
- Visit the official Commonwealth Foundation website.
- Wait until submissions open on 1 September 2025.
- Register online through the entry portal once it’s live.
- Carefully read all entry rules and guidelines before starting.
- Fill out the application form and upload your original short story (2,000–5,000 words).
- Make sure all details are accurate, then submit your entry before the 1 November 2025 deadline.
Entrry Rules of the Commonwealth Essay Contest:
- Entries must be submitted online by the original author through the official entry form.
- The deadline to apply is 1 November 2025, 11:59 PM (any time zone).
- Only one story per writer can be submitted each year.
- The story must be your own original work and unpublished, including online (except personal blogs or Facebook pages).
- You cannot resubmit a story that has been entered in the Commonwealth Short Story Prize in previous years.
- Stories must be written in English or one of the approved languages. If it is a translation, it must be submitted by the original author.
- The story should be between 2,000 and 5,000 words, excluding the title.
- Submit your story as a PDF file, with the file name matching the story title.
- Do not include your name or personal details in the document.
- Use Arial font, size 12, with double line spacing and numbered pages.
- Stories must be adult fiction. Entries written solely for children are not eligible.
Selection Criteria for the Commonwealth Award 2025:
- Excellent Academic record.
- Quality of Writing.
- Meeting the eligibility criteria.
Application Deadline:
- 1 November 2025.
