2026 Edinburgh Short Story Award

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Edinburgh Short Story Award Guidelines:

OPEN FOR ENTRIES: 1 November 2025

CLOSING DATE: 28 February 2026 at 23.59 UK Time

WORD LIMIT: 2000 words (not including the title)

By 10 August 2026, all candidates will be contacted to let them know if they have made it to the short list. An online event involving all the shortlisted authors will be held at a date and time to suit authors (by 30 September 2026 at the latest) when the prize winners will be announced.  The announcement of the winner will be carried on our website, via Facebook, Instagram, through our newsletters and on YouTube. Sign up for our newsletter here.

PRIZES

First Prize – £3,000 

Second Prize – £500 

Third Prize – £250

THE ISOBEL LODGE AWARD: £750 – for unpublished writers in Scotland

WRITE MANGO AWARD: £300 – for the most amusing, bizarre story entered in the competition - writers worldwide

FIRST WRITE AWARD £300 – for unpublished writers worldwide

Five Commendations awarded £100 each

Publication in the anual Edinburgh Anthology will be offered to authors of the top fifteen short stories.

All prize winners will be published in the anthology.

The Scottish Arts Club will present one year free membership to the Club to the 1st. 2nd, 3rd place and First Write, Write Mango and Isobel Lodge winners.

ELIGIBILITY

  • The Edinburgh Short Story Award is open to all writers worldwide, published and unpublished, who are over 16 years. Entries can be on any theme or subject but must be written in English. 
  • Stories must be for adult readers.
  • Entries must not have been previously published in print or online, been broadcast or won a prize.
  • Simultaneous submission is permitted. Should your short story win a prize or be published elsewhere, please let us know and withdraw your entry from the current Award.
  • No refunds are issued. No amendments or changes are permitted to entries after they have been submitted.

FORMAT

  • Maximum length is 2,000 words. The title does not count as part of the 2000 word limit.
  • Entries should be typed in a plain legible font.
  • Entries will be read and judged anonymously. Do not put your name, address, email, telephone number or any personal identifying information on any page of your document or in the file name.
  • Acceptable file types are doc, docx, and pdf. No other format is accepted.

SUBMITTING

  • We do not accept postal entries.
  • No corrections or alterations can be made after entries have been received. If you want to change the story you will have to submit a new entry.
  • Entry is open from 1 November 2025 and close 28 February 2026 (11.59pm UK time).
  • You may submit as many entries as you wish.
  • All entries will be acknowledged.

PAYMENT AND ENTRY FEE

  • The entry fee is £11 per story.
  • The competition is administered through the Scottish Arts Trust, a registered charity in Scotland. All proceeds are used to support the arts in Scotland.
  • Applications for free entry through our bursary scheme are open from 1 November to 31 December 2025. Learn more here

FEEDBACK

  • Feedback has been suspended in 2026.  

COPYRIGHT

  • The author will retain copyright to their story.
  • All authors will be asked for permission before any work is published on our website or in the anthology. We expect all prize-winning and commended authors to agree to publication.
  • All stories submitted must be entirely the author’s own work, and not infringe the copyright or any other rights of any third party and not be defamatory of any living person or corporate body.
  • Entries must be in the entrant’s own name/names, not pseudonymous (if successful, you can request use of an alternative name in the anthology and online).
  • We do not accept stories that have been created using AI. If a prize winning story has been found to use AI the writer will be required to reimburse their prize winnings and to cover any costs incurred by the Scottish Arts Trust. 

GENERAL

  • Entry constitutes acceptance of all Edinburgh Short Story Award Rules, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Policies.
  • Entries that fail to comply with rules, terms and conditions, privacy policies and requirements will be disqualified.
  • No correspondence can be entered into. Judges’ decisions are final.  

Tips on Using Submittable:

  • You can save a draft of your entry form if you would like to finish it later. If you are still working on your entry do not submit it.
  • Submittable works on Google Chrome, Firefox, Edge and Safari. Internet Explorer is not supported. 
  • We will follow up with you about your submission by email. Please check your Spam folder if you do not hear from us after submitting your entry.

Technical Questions?

Check out the Submitter Resource Center or contact Submittable Customer Support.

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