Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 | How to Apply

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 is officially open for entries!

This annual competition, organized by the Commonwealth Foundation, aims to discover and celebrate bold new voices across the Commonwealth. It’s open to writers from Africa, Asia, Canada & Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific, offering a platform to share unique stories with a global audience.

In this guide, we walk you through everything you need to know about the Competition and how to apply successfully.

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Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 Summary

• Host Country: United Kingdom
• Study Abroad:  Study in UK
• Host: Commonwealth Foundation
• Category: Competitions 
• Eligible Countries: Commonwealth Countries
• Reward: Up to £5,000 prize
• Deadline: November 1, 2025

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Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 Details

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 is now open for talented writers across the Commonwealth! This global literary competition celebrates bold storytelling and offers writers the chance to showcase their creativity on an international stage.

Each year, the prize recognizes the best unpublished short fiction from five Commonwealth regions: Africa, Asia, Canada & Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific. The international judging panel consists of one representative from each of the five Commonwealth regions. Although judges assess entries by region, they read and discuss stories from all regions together before making their final decisions.

The prize is free to enter and open to any citizen of a Commonwealth country aged 18 and over. The prize recognizes the best unpublished short story between 2,000 and 5,000 words. Five writers will win, one from each region, and one of these regional winners will be chosen as the overall winner. The overall winner of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize will receive £5,000 and the remaining four regional winners £2,500. If the winning short story is a translation into English, the translator will receive additional prize money.

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Eligibility Requirements for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026

To be eligible for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country or a stateless person currently residing in a Commonwealth nation.
• Must be 18 years or older on November 1, 2025.
• Entries must be original and unpublished in any language before May 1, 2026.
• The prize is only open to short fiction, but it can be in any fiction genre.
• Stories must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
• Entries can be written in English or in any approved Commonwealth language, provided an English translation is submitted.
• Co-authored or jointly written stories are not accepted.
• The author’s name should not appear anywhere on the story document to ensure fairness in judging.

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Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 Benefits

Successful applicants will receive:

• Overall Prize: The overall winner receives a cash award of £5,000.
• Regional Prizes: Each of the five regional winners (Africa, Asia, Canada & Europe, Caribbean, and Pacific) receives £2,500.
• Gain global recognition as part of one of the world’s most respected short story competitions.

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Required Documents

Applicants for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 must prepare and submit the following:

• Completed Online Entry Form
• Short Story Manuscript:
  • Must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
  • Submitted in English or with an English translation if originally written in another approved language.
  • The story must be unpublished and the original work of the author.
  • Upload your story in Word (.doc/.docx) or PDF format.
  • Use Arial 12-point font and double line spacing for English entries. If you’re writing in another language, use the appropriate font for that language. Number all pages before submitting.
  • The document should not include your name or personal details to maintain anonymity during judging.
• Proof of Eligibility (if requested): The organizers might request that you provide proof of your citizenship or residency in a Commonwealth country.
• Author Bio (optional): You can add a short writer’s biography (about 50–100 words) in the online entry form for record purposes.

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How to Apply for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026

To apply for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026, interested applicants:

• Visit the official website below
• Read the full rules and guidelines carefully.
• Prepare Your Story: 2,000–5,000 words, ensure your document is anonymous and saved in Word (.doc/.docx) or PDF format.
• Submit your story before the deadline
• After submitting, you’ll receive an email confirmation from the Commonwealth Foundation acknowledging receipt of your entry.

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Deadline

November 1, 2025.

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