Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2026 Regional Winners Announced

• Five stories—chosen from 7,806 entries—have been announced as regional winners of the world’s most global literature prize.
• Judges hail stories ‘where the characters are utterly believable, the prose assured, and the author has something important to say.’
• A Maltese writer wins the Canada and Europe regional prize for the first time.
• The stories transport readers to the chawls of Mumbai, a sheep farm in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, Malta’s ancient bastions, a home in South Africa and a Trinidadian grove with hidden secrets.

The Commonwealth Foundation has announced the five regional winners of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, the world’s most global literary prize.

The winners are Lisa-Anne Julien from South Africa (Africa region), Sharon Aruparayil from India (Asia region), John Edward DeMicoli from Malta (Canada and Europe Region), Jamir Nazir from Trinidad and Tobago (Caribbean region), and Holly Ann Miller from New Zealand (Pacific region).

All five writers have been recognised for the first time, having also been shortlisted for the first time. The five stories were chosen from 7,806 entries, the second highest number in the prize’s history. They will now proceed to the final round of judging, and the overall winner will be announced on Tuesday, 30 June 2026.

The stories bring compelling characters to life in sharply drawn settings, exploring themes of power, family tension, resistance and unheard voices—alongside courage and unexpected connection. Among them are a keenly observant domestic worker, a young woman whose henna art enables silenced women to speak, and a resourceful young sheep farmer.

The untold stories of migrants arriving by sea inspire a tale set within Valletta’s ancient walls, as an NGO worker reflects on the power of those walls to protect the vulnerable. In the Southern Alps of Aotearoa, a sheep farm becomes the setting for a story about fostering a newborn lamb and its human parallels. In rural Trinidad, tragedy is narrowly averted in a grove that remembers. In Johannesburg, two women have more in common than they realise in a telling depiction of domestic abuse.

Chair of the Judges, Louise Doughty, said:

‘Here are five writers who share an immense confidence of tone, announcing themselves from the very first line. The style and content of each work may vary, but what all our winning authors have in common is an ability to take their readers by the hand and lead them into a world where the characters are utterly believable, the prose assured, and the author has something important to say.’

Granta’s Deputy Editor and Managing Director, Luke Neima said, ‘Granta is delighted to publish these writers, whose work reflects the extraordinary range of voices across the Commonwealth. Through this partnership, the prize brings contemporary stories—and new perspectives—to readers around the world. With its linguistic and geographic diversity, few initiatives do more to broaden the bibliodiversity of English-language literature.’

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is awarded annually for the best piece of unpublished short fiction from any of the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries. It is the most accessible and international of all writing competitions: in addition to English, entries can be submitted in Bengali, Chinese, Creole, French, Greek, Malay, Maltese, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, Tamil, and Turkish.

The winning stories are:

• Africa: ‘Me and Ma'am’ by Lisa-Anne Julien (South Africa)
• Asia: ‘Mehendi Nights’ by Sharon Aruparayil (India)
• Canada/Europe: ‘The Bastion's Shadow’ by John Edward DeMicoli (Malta)
• Caribbean: ‘The Serpent in the Grove’ by Jamir Nazir (Trinidad and Tobago)
• Pacific: ‘Second Skin’ by Holly Ann Miller (New Zealand)

About the Commonwealth Short Story Prize

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is administered by the Commonwealth Foundation. The prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2000-5000 words). Regional winners receive £2,500 GBP, and the overall winner receives £5,000 GBP. Short stories translated into English from other languages are also eligible. The winning stories are published online by Granta and in a special print collection by Paper + Ink.

About the Commonwealth Foundation

The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation mandated by its member countries to advance the interests of Commonwealth civil society. Upholding a firm commitment to the principles and ideals of the Commonwealth, the Foundation seeks to nurture the growth of vibrant and free societies: championing the active and constructive participation of people in all aspects of governance.

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