The results are in - Chalk Circle Short Story Competition 2026

The results are in for the Chalk Circle Short Story Competition 2026

Many congratulations to the winners and runners-up in our 2026 Short Story Competition. The winners in each category receive cash prizes and the winning and highly commended stories are published in full here.

Here's what the judges had to say. We were extremely impressed by the quality of submissions, and delighted to see authors from all over the world embracing our challenge. So many wonderful stories. Such a diverse mix of imaginative and entertaining writing. It has been a pleasure and an honour to read your submissions.

You can read the full judges report and find out more about the winning and highly commended authors here.

Chalk Circle 1500 Short Story Category

Winner

A Blanket, But No Umbrella by D.M. Tomlinson

Commended

The Weight Of It by Twist Phelan

Until the Sun Goes Down by Steff Morgan

Chalk Circle 360 Flash Fiction Category

Winner

The Asymmetry of Truth by Sam Austrums

Highly Commended

House Rules by Lana Dove

Commended

For the Love of Mackerel by Hilary Smith

Landscape by Rebecca Kinnarney

Sorry Sorry by Twist Phelan

Short Listed Stories in both categories

My Daughter’s Desperate for a Dog but Her Mother’s a Cat Person by Chris Cottom

The Cabbage Rabbit by Kevin Lymer

The Fire That Never Dies by Ahmet Ersozlu

Void by Terry Kerins​​