Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 is now accepting applications! This prestigious prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words) and is open to citizens of Commonwealth countries aged 18 and over.
📖 About Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026
- Date Published: September 01, 2025
- Application Deadline: November 01, 2025
- Category: Entrepreneurs, Grants
The prize is free to enter and submissions must be made via the online entry form. Writers have until 11:59 PM GMT on November 1, 2025, to submit their stories.
An international judging panel will shortlist around 25 stories, from which five regional winners will be chosen. One of these regional winners will be selected as the overall winner.
🎁 Benefits of Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026
- Overall Winner: £5,000
- Regional Winners: £2,500 each
- Publication: All five regional winning stories will be published on Granta.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
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Citizenship:
- Entrants must be citizens of a Commonwealth country or stateless persons currently residing in a Commonwealth country.
- Dual citizens will be judged in the region where they are permanently resident.
- Entries from citizens of non-Commonwealth countries are not eligible.
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Age:
- Entrants must be aged 18 years or over as of November 1, 2025.
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Publication Status:
- Entries must be unpublished and remain unpublished in any language until May 1, 2026.
- Stories that have been shortlisted or won prizes in other competitions (but remain unpublished) are eligible.
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Ineligibility:
- Previous overall winners of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize are not eligible.
- Entrants who have won the regional prize three times are also not eligible.
- Current staff members of the Commonwealth Foundation are not eligible.
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Discretion:
- The Commonwealth Foundation reserves the right to verify citizenship and make final rulings on eligibility.
🖋️ Application Process
- Deadline: Submit your story by 11:59 PM GMT on November 1, 2025.
- Submission: Use the online entry form available on the official website.
For detailed eligibility requirements and entry rules, refer to the official guidelines.
🌍 Selection Process
- Shortlist: Approximately 25 stories will be shortlisted by an international judging panel.
- Regional Winners: Five regional winners will be selected.
- Overall Winner: One regional winner will be chosen as the overall winner.
📅 Key Dates
- Application Deadline: November 1, 2025
- Publication of Winning Stories: May 1, 2026
🔗 Useful Links
🏢 Sponsor Organisation
The Commonwealth Foundation is the sponsor of this prize.
Take advantage of this incredible opportunity to showcase your talent and gain international recognition! 🌟
- One of the regional winners is selected as the overall winner, who receives £5,000.
- The regional winners will receive £2,500.
- All five regional winning stories will be published on Granta.
