2026 Commonwealth Foundation Short Story Prize Winning Award

Eligibility Criteria

• The prize is free to enter and open to any citizen of a Commonwealth country aged 18 and over.
• It is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2,000–5,000 words).
• There is no requirement for the writer to have current residence in a Commonwealth country, providing that they are a citizen of a Commonwealth country.
• Entries from previous overall winners ofthe Commonwealth Short Story Prize are not eligible. Entrants who have won the regional prize three times are also not eligible to submit to the prize.
• Entries from current members of staff at the Commonwealth Foundation are not eligible. 
• Entries must be unpublished and remain unpublished in any language until 1 May 2026. 
• If your entry has been shortlisted or won a prize in other competitions, provided it has not been published, it is eligible.

Application Process

Required Documents:

If you’ve written and edited your story and read the eligibility requirements and the entry rules, enter it now by filling in the submission form.

Contact details For any questions about eligibility or rules, please contact