The Commonwealth Short Story Prize has stated that it received 7,806 entries from writers in 54 countries.
The organisers of the international literary, revealed that the ages of the writers who submitted their works for the 2026 edition of the prize ranged from 18 to 95.
“More than half were first-time entrants. If you were one of them, welcome to the community,” they stated.
Thanking the writer s for submitting their works, they added, “We’re grateful that you trusted us with your work and hope you enjoyed bringing your ideas to life.”
The Commonwealth Prize recorded participation from 12 countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, Eswatini, Malta, and Papua New Guinea. It also recorded a 36 per cent increase in non-English submissions.
“We’re grateful to everyone who encouraged others to enter, proofread stories, and helped spread the word,” the organisers added.
Thank the judges and past winners, whose insights shaped a set of writing tips and exercises used by thousands of storytellers, the organisers announced that the judging process for the 2026 edition of the prize is now underway.
“We will announce the shortlisted writers in April 2026, followed by regional winners in May, and the overall winner in June,” they added.
