The Julia & Martin Wilson Short Story Prize 2026

Broadway Arts Festival launched a short story prize in order to encourage creativity during the lockdown. The prize is generously sponsored and judged by festival Benefactors Julia & Martin Wilson who read every entry received, from across the world. The competition now takes place every other year.

Entries need to be a maximum of 2,000 words with unlimited entries allowed per entrant. No theme to adhere to.

Prizes:

  • Main prize (adults): £800
  • Ages 11-16yrs: £100
  • Age 10 and under: £100

The deadline for entries is 6pm on 27th March 2026

Please do not enter any previously submitted entries as they will not qualify for consideration.

Winners will be announced towards the second week of May. Winning stories will be published on the festival website for all to read & enjoy.

There is a fee of £12 per entry for the main prize of £800 for adults, but the competition is free to enter for those age 16 and under.

Adult entrants: please use spellcheck, grammar-check tools and proofread before submitting

Parents of u16 entrants: you are discouraged from influencing or perfecting your child’s entry. Enthusiasm and originality is encouraged.

Entry checklist:

  • Include the story title, your name and the word count in the heading of the attached story file
  • Under 16’s – please also include your age in the heading

A link to the entry form will appear here on the 5th January 2026