RISCS Short Story Competition 2026

RISCS – the National Research Institute for Sociotechnical Cyber Security, based at the University of Bristol – has launched a short story competition to explore how different social, technological, economic, and environmental changes might shape the future of cybersecurity. The organizer is looking for creative short stories that bring to life the future world of cyber security in the year 2036. The winning stories will be showcased at CYBERUK, the UK government’s flagship cyber security event, taking place in Glasgow 21-23 April 2026.

The competition is open to both published and unpublished writers. It is open to UK residents only. All entries must be in English. Authors must be aged 18 years or over on the closing date.

Stories can be written in any style and can be based on any genre (e.g., Mystery, Crime, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Historical, Horror, Romance, YA, etc.).

Each of the 10 shortlisted authors will receive 3 free copies of the Anthology.

Shortlisted stories will be published in a dedicated Anthology and three top prizes will be awarded by RISCS:

• 1st prize – £1,000
• 2nd prize – £500
• 3rd prize – £250
• Each of the 10 shortlisted authors will receive 3 free copies of the Anthology.

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.

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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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