Bedford International Short Story Competition 2026 — The Bedford Competition, UK (First Prize £2,000)
COMPETITION

Bedford International Short Story Competition 2026 — The Bedford Competition, UK (First Prize £2,000)

The Bedford Competition

October 31, 2026 (32 publicSeo.openCall.daysLeft)Bedford, England, UK (online entry worldwide; postal entries from the UK only)

Annual international short story competition run since 2012 by The Bedford Competition, a nonprofit group in Bedford, England.

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Main prizes £2,000, £400 and £300; separate Cygnature Short Story Prize (£300) for entrants aged 17–25 and Bedford Short Story Prize (£200) for Bedford residents. Prizewinning and shortlisted stories are published in an anthology; winners are celebrated at the presentation event. 2026 main short story judge: Toby Litt.

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Open to anyone aged 17 and over, from anywhere in the world. Stories of up to 3,000 words, in English, unpublished (including online) and not prize-winning elsewhere; anonymous judging. Up to three stories per entry form, no limit on entries. Overseas entries online only. Stories created with the aid of AI are disqualified.

Dates & details

Deadline
23:59 GMT
Costs to the artist
Entry fee only; submission online
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£2,000 first prize; £400 second; £300 third
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£8.50 per entry, 3 for £17; full-time students £6 (3 for £12)