The International Audio Drama Competition 2026

The International Audio Drama Competition 2026 is hosted by BBC World Service and the British Council. The competition is open to new and established writers, provided they live outside of the UK. Entrants must also be over the age of 18 as of 4 June 2025.

Entrants should write an audio drama script on any subject. The drama should have a maximum of six central characters. All scripts submitted must be approximately 40-50 minutes in length.

There are two categories for entry:

• one category for entrants who speak English as a first language,
• one category for entrants with English as a second language.

The competition is free to enter.

Winners be invited to attend an award ceremony in the UK in 2026, and to participate in the recording of their dramas for a world premiere on BBC World Service platforms.

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.

ProWritingAid
We are keen to encourage quality, so suggest writers to check their stories before submitting using Prowritingaid. They have free and paid versions and are the best writing software we know to help improve grammar, readability and check for repetition, ‘sticky’ sentences and suggest alternatives. Visit their website and try ProWritingAid for free.