FeaturedConfirm dates
BBC National Short Story Award
BBC Radio 4 with the University of Cambridge
Typical close 16 Mar 2027
Deadline
16 March 2027
Opens
14 January 2027
Entry fee
Free
Region
United Kingdom
Age
18+
Length
Typically up to 8,000 words
Short story18+Free to enter
The prize
£10,000 winner; £1,000 each for the shortlist (recent cycles)
Who can enter
British nationals and UK residents aged 18+ with a prior UK publication record in creative writing.
About
The UK’s most prominent short-story prize, broadcast on Radio 4. Entrants need a prior UK publication record.
Dates mirror the 2026 cycle (14 Jan–16 Mar). Confirm 2027 dates on the BBC site.
Dates follow the typical annual cycle. Confirm current deadlines on the official site before preparing an entry.