2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Opens For Entries As Panel Of Judges Announced

• Writers from 56 Commonwealth countries are invited to enter their short stories
• Award-winning British novelist and dramatist Louise Doughty to chair high-profile international judging panel
• Entrants can submit stories with no fee and in 13 languages for the chance to win international recognition and prize money

London, UK. Award-winning British novelist and dramatist Louise Doughty will chair an international panel of judges for the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, the world’s most global literary prize, administered by the Commonwealth Foundation. Entries are now open and will be accepted until 1 November 2025. Previous winners include Chanel Sutherland, Constantia Soteriou, Ingrid Persaud, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, Kanya D’Almeida, Kevin Jared Hosein, Kwame McPherson, and Sanjana Thakur.

Doughty’s fellow judges, drawn from the five regions of the Commonwealth, are: South African journalist, author and short story writer Fred Khumalo (Africa); Bangladeshi writer, translator and essayist Rifat Munim Dip (Asia); Padlei Inuk Canadian poet, novelist and scholar Norma Dunning (Canada and Europe); short story writer, novelist and lawyer Sharma Taylor from Jamaica (Caribbean); and poet, illustrator and author Maxine Beneba Clarke from Australia (Pacific).

Louise Doughty says, ‘My earliest taste of success as a young writer came when, working part-time as a secretary, my short story was runner-up in a competition. Thirty-five years later, now the author of twelve books, I can still remember the feeling of deep joy that my work had been recognised, and how it felt like the beginning of something. Throughout my career, I have had the pleasure and privilege of judging many prizes, but my favourites have been those that discovered new talent. By inviting both published and unpublished writers from across the world to take part and welcoming stories in multiple languages, the Commonwealth Short Story Prize is in a league of its own. I can't wait to work with my illustrious panel as we discover the many fresh voices that will cross our desks. I already know how hard it’s going to be to choose a winner.’

Prize now open for entries

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is now open, and we will be accepting entries until 1 November 2025. It is open to citizens of all 56 Commonwealth countries aged 18 and over and is free to enter. Established in 2012, the prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words). Five regional winners will be announced, after which one of them will be chosen as the overall winner. Each regional winner receives £2,500, and the overall winner receives a total of £5,000.

In addition to English, entries are accepted in Bengali, Chinese, Creole, French, Greek, Malay, Maltese, Portuguese, Samoan, Swahili, Tamil, and Turkish. Stories that have been translated into English from any language are also accepted. The translator of any story that wins (regional or overall) also receives prize money.

The five regional winning stories are published online by the literary magazine Granta and in a special print collection from Paper + Ink. The shortlisted stories are published in the Foundation’s online literary magazine, adda. The prize has a growing reputation for discovering and elevating new talent and offers a unique opportunity to unpublished writers alongside more established practitioners. Past winners of the prize have gone on to win other literary competitions, secure deals with agents, and publish books.

Last year’s overall winner, Canadian Vincentian writer Chanel Sutherland, had this to say to potential entrants: ‘A story written in solitude, with all its quiet fears, can find its way across oceans and into the lives of strangers. It can connect you to readers who feel seen because of what you have dared to put on the page. I know the questions that arise when you sit with your words. Is this good enough? Does my story matter? Will anyone care? I have carried those same doubts, and what I discovered through the Commonwealth Short Story Prize is that the act of sharing is what truly matters.’

She adds, ‘The worries will always be there, but so will the possibility that your story will travel farther than you ever imagined. The Prize is not only about recognition, but about courage, community, and the belief that our words can move through the world in ways we cannot predict. I encourage you to take that step and trust your voice. Your story is waiting to go farther than you think.’

Those interested in entering can read about eligibility, rules, and the submission process at: https://commonwealthfoundation.com/short-story-prize

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