Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize 2026 with a GBP 3,000 Cash Prize
By: Galley Beggar PressLast update:
Applicant criteria
NationalityNo specific nationality required
Age
- No specific age required
Gender
- Both
Opportunity criteria
Opportunity FieldForeign Languages and Literature, Others
Deadline2026-11-08
Opportunity description
Galley Beggar Press is accepting entries for the Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize 2026/27, an international competition in creative writing and short fiction that is open to writers from around the world and of all ages.
The prize is looking for original short stories written in English and welcomes a wide range of literary styles and genres, including experimental fiction, literary fiction, crime, fantasy, science fiction, and more. The organizers emphasize that the quality of the writing is the primary factor in judging submissions.
Accepted Story Types
The competition does not restrict submissions to a specific genre. Eligible works may include:
- Literary fiction.
- Experimental fiction.
- Crime.
- Mystery.
- Fantasy.
- Science fiction.
- Other forms and styles of short fiction
Benefits
The competition offers several levels of awards:
- First Prize: GBP 3,000 in cash.
- Shortlisted writers: Each receives GBP 200.
- Shortlisted stories are published in a limited-edition collection distributed to bookshops, associations, and literary organizations across the UK.
- Longlisted writers: Each receives GBP 50 in book vouchers, plus a subscription that includes 4 books from Galley Beggar Press.
Eligibility criteria
Applicants may apply if they:
- Are writers from any country worldwide.
- Are of any age, as there is no minimum or maximum age requirement.
- Are either previously published or unpublished writers.
- Submit an original work of fiction written by them.
- Submit a story that has not previously been published online or in print.
- Write the story in English, or submit an English translation.
- Keep the story within a maximum of 6,000 words.
- Comply with the competition’s rules regarding originality and intellectual property rights.