Anthology Short Story Competition 2026
Anthology Publishing
📌About the Event
The Anthology Short Story Competition 2026 is an international creative writing contest designed to recognise talented writers and provide them with an opportunity to have their work published. Participants may submit an original, unpublished short story in English on any theme or in any writing style. The competition is open to writers of all ages and nationalities, making it accessible to students, emerging writers and experienced authors worldwide.
ℹ️ Event Details
- Competition category: Creative writing and short-story writing
- Mode of conduct: Online and postal
- Geographical scope: International
- Theme: Open theme
- Language: English
- Maximum word limit: 1,500 words
- Participants may submit multiple stories.
- A separate application form and entry fee must be submitted for every story.
- Online participants must upload their story through the official submission portal and complete the payment process.
- Postal entries must be sent to Anthology Publishing in Limerick, Ireland.
- All postal payments and entry fees must be made in euros.
📅 Important Dates
- Standard entry period: February 1 to July 31, 2026
- Final submission deadline: July 31, 2026
- Result notification: Early 2027
🎯 Eligibility & Rules
- Eligibility:
- The competition is open to participants of all ages.
- Writers from any country or nationality can participate.
- Entries must be written in English.
- Stories must be original and previously unpublished.
- Revised, adapted or reworked versions of previously published material are not eligible.
- There is no restriction on the story’s theme, genre or writing style.
- Each entry must not exceed 1,500 words.
- Multiple submissions are allowed, but each requires a separate form and fee.
- Simultaneous submissions to other publications are permitted. However, the entry must be withdrawn if it is accepted elsewhere.
- The use of generative artificial intelligence to create competition entries is prohibited.
- Entries must be submitted as a PDF, DOC or DOCX file.
- Writers must use Arial or Times New Roman font in 12-point size with 1.5 or double-line spacing.
🏆 Benefits for the Participants
- First Prize:
- €1,000 cash prize
- Publication of the winning story in a future issue of Anthology magazine
- One-year Reedsy Learning membership, including access to masterclasses and conferences
- Second Prize: €250
- Third Prize: €150
- Shortlisted writers: One live Reedsy craft masterclass of their choice
- All participants: Exclusive 10% discount on a Reedsy Learning membership
- Prize money will be paid when the winning story is published in Anthology magazine.