Applications are open for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026, inviting submissions from talented writers across the Commonwealth. This prestigious competition is aimed at unpublished short fiction from writers aged 18 and above, offering an exceptional platform for emerging and established authors to showcase their creativity. Entrants are encouraged to submit original stories between 2,000 and 5,000 words in any fiction genre, including literary, speculative, historical, crime, romance, and more. Stories can be written in English or any of the other accepted languages, such as Bengali, Chinese, Creole, French, Greek, Kiswahili, Malay, Maltese, Portuguese, Samoan, Tamil, and Turkish.

The prize provides significant recognition and rewards. The overall winner will receive £5,000, while each of the five regional winners will earn £2,500. Additionally, winning stories will be published online and included in a special print collection, with an extra prize for translators if the story was originally written in another language. To qualify, entrants must be at least 18 years old, submit only one entry, and ensure their story has not been previously published in any language before May 2026. Submissions must be made through the official online entry form, as email entries are not accepted.

This competition represents an exciting opportunity for writers to gain international recognition and have their work celebrated by a global audience. Writers interested in participating can access full details, submission guidelines, and entry forms directly on the official Commonwealth Foundation website.

Scroll down for more details and click on the official link to apply for this opportunity