Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 | Win £5,000 & Get Published in Granta

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 is one of the most prestigious international writing competitions, celebrating original short fiction by writers from across the Commonwealth. Open to anyone aged 18 or older who is a citizen of a Commonwealth country, the prize offers a top award of £5,000 for the overall winner and £2,500 for each of the five regional winners.

It’s free to enter and open to writers of all backgrounds—students, teachers, part-time writers, or those with no prior publishing experience. All you need is an unpublished short story and a passion for storytelling.

Why This Prize Stands Out

The prize champions diversity by recognizing talent from five Commonwealth regions: Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
Winners are selected by an expert panel and their stories are published in Granta, one of the most respected literary magazines, offering unmatched global exposure. Stories can be written in English or in approved regional languages.

Prize Details

• Overall Winner: £5,000 cash prize

• Regional Winners: £2,500 cash prize each

• Publication: Winning stories featured in Granta

• Additional Recognition: Shortlisted stories published in adda, the Commonwealth Foundation’s literary platform

• Translation Bonus: If a winning story is translated into English, the translator will receive £750

• Exposure: International recognition and a chance to represent your region globally

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country

• 18 years or older

• Submit one original, unpublished short story between 2,000–5,000 words

• Story can be in English or one of the approved languages

• Open to writers from all backgrounds and identities

• Stories for adults only (children’s fiction not accepted)

Prize Regions

• Africa: e.g., Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa

• Asia: e.g., India, Pakistan, Malaysia

• Canada & Europe: e.g., Canada, UK, Cyprus

• Caribbean: e.g., Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados

• Pacific: e.g., Australia, New Zealand, Fiji

How to Apply

1. Visit the Commonwealth Foundation official website.

2. Submissions open 1 September 2025.

3. Register online via the entry portal.

4. Read all rules and guidelines carefully.

5. Submit your story (2,000–5,000 words) as a PDF file, without personal details in the document.

6. Ensure proper formatting: Arial 12 pt, double-spaced, numbered pages.

7. Submit before 1 November 2025, 11:59 PM (any time zone).

Key Entry Rules

• One story per writer per year

• Original and unpublished (except on personal blogs or social media)

• Cannot be a resubmission from previous years

• Translation entries must be submitted by the original author

• Adult fiction only

Selection Criteria

• Quality of writing

• Originality and creativity

• Adherence to eligibility requirements

Deadline

November 1, 2025