Read the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Winners — and Prepare for 2027!
Are you an aspiring writer?
Then you should be reading some of the best short stories being written across the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is one of the major international opportunities for emerging writers from Commonwealth
countries. Every year, writers submit original short fiction, and the competition brings together remarkable voices from different cultures, countries and backgrounds.
Meet the 2026 Regional Winners
The 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize attracted
7,806 entries from across the Commonwealth. Five writers
emerged as regional winners, representing the five Commonwealth regions.
Africa
Me and Ma’am
Lisa-Anne Julien — South Africa
Asia
Mehendi Nights
Sharon Aruparayil — India
Canada & Europe
The Bastion’s Shadow
John Edward DeMicoli — Malta
Caribbean
The Serpent in the Grove
Jamir Nazir — Trinidad and Tobago
Pacific
Second Skin
Holly Ann Miller — New Zealand
And the overall 2026 winner?
The Serpent in the Grove by
Jamir Nazir of Trinidad and Tobago was selected as the overall winning story.
Set in rural Trinidad, the story explores betrayal, survival, poverty, desire and the determination of a woman’s will.
What Do the Winners Receive?
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize does not only provide recognition. It also comes with a substantial monetary reward and opportunities for publication.
Each regional winner receives £2,500.
The overall winner receives a total of £5,000.
The winning stories are published online by
Granta and in a special print collection by
Paper + Ink. Shortlisted stories are also published in adda, the Commonwealth Foundation’s online literary magazine.
If a winning story is a translation into English, the translator receives an additional £750.
Students, Don’t Just Read — Study the Stories
If you are serious about improving your creative writing, these stories
are worth studying closely.
Don’t read them only for entertainment. Read them as writers. Pay attention to how the authors begin their stories, introduce characters, create conflict, develop setting, use
dialogue and imagery, control suspense, and bring their stories to an effective conclusion.
As you read, ask yourself:
- How does the writer capture my attention from the beginning?
- What makes the characters believable?
- How is the setting used to strengthen the story?
- What is the central conflict?
- How does the writer reveal information?
- What literary devices and stylistic techniques are used?
- What makes the ending effective?
- What can I learn from this writer without simply copying the writer’s style?
📖 Read the 2026 Winning Stories
The Commonwealth Foundation has published the 2026 prize information and provides links to read the winning stories.
The Next Winner Could Be You.
This is where we want to challenge our students.
Don’t just admire the winners. Start preparing to join them.
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is open to Commonwealth citizens aged 18 and above (in which Nigeria is one). The competition is open to short story of different genres, and stories must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.
The 2027 competition is expected to open in
January 2027, following the Commonwealth Foundation’s review of its processes, entry rules and submission guidelines.
That means there is no need to wait until the competition opens before
you start writing.
- Read excellent short stories.
- Study how they are constructed.
- Write regularly.
- Experiment with different voices and perspectives.
- Revise your work carefully.
- Ask others to read your stories and give you honest feedback.
- Build a story that you will be proud to submit.
- Above all, be original. You have your own uniqueness.
And Don’t Stop at the Short Story Prize
The Commonwealth Foundation also shares other opportunities for creatives, including competitions, grants and opportunities to connect with other Commonwealth citizens.
If you are an aspiring writer, make it a habit to check the Commonwealth Foundation’s opportunities page regularly.
Your Story Could Be Next.
Somewhere in you is a story that deserves to be told.
Don’t wait until you feel like a “professional writer.”
Read. Write. Rewrite. Submit.
The writers we celebrate today were once simply people who decided to put their stories on paper.
Adroit Tutors encourages every aspiring writer among our students to start preparing for the 2027 Commonwealth Short Story Prize.
Keep writing. Your story may be the one readers are talking about next.
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