How to Enter the Commonwealth Short Story Prize

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is now open for submissions for 2025.

This prize invites writers to share their unpublished short stories with a global audience and compete for cash rewards.

About the Commonwealth Short Story Prize

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize began in 2012 under the guidance of Commonwealth Writers, a project of the Commonwealth Foundation.

The competition seeks to find and celebrate new voices from all 54 Commonwealth countries.

Each year, between 6,000 and 7,000 entries are submitted from around the world.

Prizes for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize

Five winners will be chosen, one from each region.

One regional winner will become the overall winner.

• Overall Winner: £5,000.
• Regional Winners: £2,500 each.

All winning stories will be published in Granta, a respected literary magazine.

Eligibility for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize

To enter the Commonwealth Short Story Prize, ensure the following:

• Citizenship: Must be a citizen of a Commonwealth country or a stateless person living in a Commonwealth country.
• Dual Citizenship: If holding dual citizenship of two Commonwealth countries, the entry will be judged in the region where permanent residence is.
• Age: Must be 18 years or older by 1st November 2024.
• Unpublished Work: Stories must be unpublished in any language and remain so until 1st May 2025.
• Previous Winners: Past overall winners cannot enter again, nor can those who have won the regional prize three times.
• Staff Members: Employees of the Commonwealth Foundation are not eligible.
• Other Competitions: Entries shortlisted or winning in other competitions are allowed if unpublished.

Prize Regions

Winners will come from five distinct regions:

• Africa: Botswana, Cameroon, eSwatini, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia. Overseas Territories: Saint Helena, Tristan Da Cunha, Ascension Island.
• Asia: Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka.
• Canada and Europe: Canada, Cyprus, Malta, United Kingdom. Overseas Territories: Gibraltar, Falkland Islands.
• Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago. Overseas Territories: Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Montserrat, Turks and Caicos Islands.
• Pacific: Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu. Overseas Territories: Cook Islands, Niue, Pitcairn.

How to Apply

Submit the story through the official Commonwealth Short Story Prize entry form.

Ensure all entries are sent by 1st November 2024 at 11:59 pm in any time zone.

For more information, visit the Commonwealth Short Story Prize official website.

Take this chance to share a story with readers worldwide and gain international recognition.