The Julia & Martin Wilson Short Story Prize 2026

Broadway Arts Festival launched a short story prize in order to encourage creativity during the lockdown. The prize is sponsored and judged by festival Benefactors, Julia & Martin Wilson, who read every entry received, from across the world. The competition now takes place every other year.

Entries need to be a maximum of 2,000 words with unlimited entries allowed per entrant. No theme to adhere to.

Prizes:

• Main prize (adults): £800
• Ages 11-16yrs: £100
• Age 10 and under: £100

The deadline for entries is 6pm on 27th March 2026.

Winners will be announced towards the second week of May. Winning stories will be published on the festival website for all to read & enjoy.

There is a fee of £12 per entry for the main prize of £800 for adults, but the competition is free to enter for those age 16 and under.

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.

Newsletter
Our newsletter delivers a carefully curated roundup of the newest writing contests and submission calls from around the world—straight to your inbox. Join our growing community of writers who stay informed and ahead of deadlines → Subscribe on Substack (free).