Short story competitions in 2026
A list of short story and flash fiction competitions coming up in 2026.
Several competitions over the year
Gotham Writers
Genre: Varied
Word count: From 25 words and up.
Entry Fee: Free
Prize: Free Gotham class.
Reedsy - Weekly writing contets
Genre: Varies
Word count: 1k - 3k
Entry Fee: $5
Prize: $250
Vocal - Themed writing contests
Genre: Varies
Word count: Varied
Entry Fee: Subscription $9.99 monthly/ $99 yearly
Prize: $200
Story Glory
Deadline: Last day of the month
Theme: Check the website on the 1st monthly
Word count: 300 - 1,200 words
Entry Fee: Free (Need to create an account)
Prize: A book or receive a £10 Amazon Voucher
Future Scholar Foundation
Deadline: 24th of the month
Theme: Monthly prompts
Word count: 350 words max
Entry Fee: Free
Prize: $60 Amazon Gift Card
Scribophile writing contests
Theme: Varies
Word count: Varies
Entry Fee: Entry is free, but you'll need karma points to post your work.
Prize: Varied, up to $100
Scribophile also recently started doing weekly challenges.
Annual competitions
Writers' & Artists' Short Story Competition
Deadline: February 13, 2026
Theme: Play
Word count: 2,000 words max
Entry Fee: Free (Need to create an account)
Prize: Arvon Residential Writing Week (worth £985)
Gemini Magazine - Anything goes
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Any Subject, Style or Length
Entry Fee: $10
Prize: $100
Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize
Deadline: April 19, 2026
Theme: Under 2000 words
Word count:
Entry Fee: €20
Prize: €2000 and a week’s residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation.
Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Theme: Clever and uplifting stories
Word count: 100 words
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $1,000
New Writers 100-Word Writing Competition
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Word count: Up to 100 words (excluding title)
Entry Fee: £10
Prize: £1,000
The SmokeLong
Deadline: May 10, 2026
Word count: 1,000 words
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $2,500
Bridport Prize
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Word count: 5000 words max
Entry Fee: £15
Prize: £5,000
Write By The Sea Writing Competitions
Deadline: June 7, 2026
Word count: Maximum 2,500 words / Maximum 700 words
Entry Fee: €12
Prize: €500
The HG Wells Short Story Competition
Deadline: July 7, 2026
Theme: The Cheat.
Word count: 1,500 to 5,000 words.
Entry Fee: $10
Prize: $500
Jim Martin Memorial Adult Story Contest
Deadline: August 1, 2026
Genre: Any sort of mystery, suspense, or thriller.
Word count: 2,500 words or less
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $100
Oxford Flash Fiction Prize
Deadline: August 31, 2026
Word count: Under 1,000 words
Entry Fee: £7 for one flash fiction / £11 for two flash fictions / £15 for three flash fictions
Prize: $1000
Aesthetica Creative Writing Award
Deadline: September 6, 2026
Word count: 2,000 words max
Entry Fee: £24
Prize: £2,500
The John Steinbeck Award
Deadline: October 1, 2026
Word count: 5,000 words max
Entry Fee: $20
Prize: $1000
Anthology Flash Fiction Competition
Deadline: September 2026
Word count: 250 words maximum
Entry Fee: €12
Prize: €300
The Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction - Win a bronze medallion
Deadline: December 31, 2026
Word count: 10,000 max
Entry Fee: $15
Prize: $1,000 and a bronze medallion
Not yet announced competitions
The Moth
Deadline: Unknown
Theme: Unknown
Word count:
Entry Fee: Inknown
Prize: €3,000
The Scribes Prize
Deadline: Unknown
Theme: Unknown
Word count: 90 - 110 words
Entry Fee: $5
Prize: $250
Fish Short Story Prize
Deadline: Unknown
Word count: 5.000 words max
Entry Fee: €24
Prize: €3,000 plus 5 day Short Story Workshop at the West Cork Literary Festival.
