The Bristol Short Story Prize is an international writing competition hosted by the Department of English at the University of Bristol.
https://bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk
Bristol Short Story Prize
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The Winner of the 2026 Bristol Short Story Prize is
'Green Green Grass' by William Weightman, a story that renders, through the unlikely medium of one man's minute-by-minute diary, the tensions coiled within the routines of a long marriage.
Second Prize goes to Laura Kyle for 'Cailín Cróga', a coming-of-age story told in the voice of an Irish girl sent away from home for a summer that turns out to be far from what was advertised.
We are honoured to announce 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place winners for Bristol Short Story Prize 2026!
Third Prize goes to Avantika Chilkoti for 'Demolitions', a story set in a Mumbai apartment block which unfolds the uneasy relationship between a domestic worker and the woman who employs her.
Writers Spotlight number 3:
Last but not least, we have our excellent writers: @jonathanpage-bw.bsky.social, Eliza Robertson, Shabnam Shokoohi, and William Weightman.
First, second and third place will be announced tomorrow at the University of Bristol Writers Day!
www.tangentbooks.co.uk
Shortlisted Author spotlight number 2!
We can’t wait to announce the winners and launch our anthology on the 6th June!
In the meantime, check out some more of our shortlisted authors and pre-order your copy here:
www.tangentbooks.co.uk/shop/p/pre-o...
Spotlight: 2026 shortlisted writers
In the run up to our winners announcement on the 6th June, have a closer look at our amazing shortlisted writers for 2026!
More spotlights will be coming out later this week.
@hussani14.bsky.social
Illustration spotlight!
4. Felix Swift @gkweezy uses mixed media collage that made us want to pick up the book and feel the change in texture. The use of colour and shape suggests landscapes, city skylines and characters waiting to tell their stories.
Illustration spotlight!
3. Holley Ayers-Durbin @ha.illustrates has really considered what a short story is in this design. Each door can open up to a new story, while the silhouetted figures invite us to ask questions about the characters to be found within.
Now that our winners have been announced and Volume 18 has launched, we would like to take the time to thank everyone who has made Bristol Short Story Prize possible this year!
Purchase your copy of Volume 18 at www.tangentbooks.co.uk
Illustration spotlight!
2. Holly Honeyfield @hollyhoneyfield shows incredible illustrations and composition in a cover that is as unique as each short story. We could spend hours finding new details in each character.
