The 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize shortlist has been announced by the Commonwealth Foundation. The international panel of judges has selected 25 writers from a pool of 7,806 entrants. Out of the 25 shortlisted authors, one is from Guyana, and five are from Trinidad and Tobago. Here is the list; for information on each author, visit the Commonwealth Foundation.

The shortlist brings together writers from 14 Commonwealth countries. This year marks new milestones, with a Maltese writer appearing on the shortlist for the first time, while all but three writers are new to this stage of the Prize. The recognition of stories written in Bengali and Malay further reflects the Prize’s role in bringing contemporary voices from across the Commonwealth to the fore. 

The shortlisted stories span a wide range of subjects, from intimate family relationships and love stories to experiences of migration, natural disasters, and the human cost of war. Told through a vivid and varied cast of protagonists— including musicians, athletes, migrant workers and even a stray dog— they move across continents and between rural and urban worlds. Across these settings, the stories explore themes of bereavement, forbidden love, displacement, and memory, while reflecting on identity, resilience, and the enduring search for belonging.  [. . .]

Five regional winners, each from one Commonwealth region, will be announced on May 13, with the overall winner to be announced in late June. All shortlisted stories will be published and available to read on their online literary magazine, adda. The five regional winners will also be published on Granta. 

For more information on the shortlisted writers and their stories, see https://commonwealthfoundation.com/