March, 2026
Event Details
The BBC National Short Story Awards are organised by the British Broadcasting Corporation in partnership with Cambridge University, one of the UK’s most prestigious prizes for a single short story. The
Event Details
The BBC National Short Story Awards are organised by the British Broadcasting Corporation in partnership with Cambridge University, one of the UK’s most prestigious prizes for a single short story. The awards celebrate excellence in contemporary short fiction, with winning stories broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and published in an anthology alongside shortlisted entries.
The main award — the BBC National Short Story Award — is open to writers aged 18 or over who have a prior record of publication in creative writing in the UK and hold British nationality or UK residency (including the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands). Entrants may submit one original short story in English, either unpublished or first published in the previous calendar year. Stories must adhere to the contest’s formatting and eligibility rules; entries are judged anonymously by a panel of distinguished authors and editors.
In addition to the main prize, the BBC Young Writers’ Award runs alongside it, open to writers aged 14–18, with its own submission window and recognition. Both awards are celebrated through broadcasts on BBC Radio and online platforms like BBC Sounds, and winners are included in companion anthologies.
Prizes:
- BBC National Short Story Award – 1st Prize: £15,000
- Shortlisted authors (main award): £600 each
- Winners are broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and published in an anthology by Comma Press
Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.
FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.
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