The Galley Beggar Press
Short Story Prize 2026/27
Terms & Conditions
THE GALLEY BEGGAR PRESS SHORT STORY PRIZE is an annual short story competition for both published and unpublished writers, writing original fiction in English, and from anywhere in the world. The award offers prize to the winner of £3000. Shortlisted writers each receive a cash prize of £200. Longlisted writers receive £50 in book vouchers, plus a 4-book subscription to Galley Beggar Press.
Previous winners of the prize include Annie Hayter, for ‘The Devil’s Alphabet’ (2025/26), Nicole Sellew, for ‘Dangerous Materials’ (2024/25), Max Lury, for ‘Santa Fe’ (2023/24), Timna Fibert, for ‘Signs and Wonders’ (2022/23); Gurnaik Johal, for ‘Arrival’ (2021/22); Edward Hogan, for ‘Single Sit’ (2020/21); Isha Karki, for ‘All In Good Time’ (2019/20); Anna Woods, for ‘When can you start?’ (2018/19); C.S. Mee, for ‘Brothers’ (2017/18); Yelena Moskovich, for ‘Marlene or Number 16’ (2016/17); and Riona Judge McCormack, for ‘Backburn’ (2015/16).
Please read the eligibility and entry rules carefully before beginning the submission process. Submission of an entry is taken as acceptance of entry rules.
1. The competition is open to both unpublished and published writers, and from anywhere in the world.
2. The cost of entry per submission is £11.00. All proceeds will be used in the administration of the prize and to support Galley Beggar Press (a publisher set up with the specific remit of sponsoring ambitious writing) in its future publications and support of groundbreaking writers. Submissions that are subsequently withdrawn will not be refunded.
3. Unless you are a low-earner and have been allocated a free entry, entrants must pay the £11.00 entry per submission in order to be eligible.
4. Only submissions received and paid for by midnight on 8 November 2026 (UK time) will be considered.
5. Entries that are not paid for or are submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
6. Both published and unpublished authors are welcome to enter, but stories that have been previously published (online or in print form) will not be eligible.
7. The story must be the entrant’s own creation and not infringe upon the right or copyright of any person or entity.
8. Entries must not exceed 6,000 words.
9. The story must be written in English.
10. Translated stories are welcomed but must be clearly marked ‘Translated’. Translated stories must follow the same rules as untranslated stories, and the original story as well as its translation must be previously unpublished.
11. There are no age restrictions.
12. When submitting, please use the first page to supply your contact details, name, and the title of the story. (These details will then be logged and removed, so that we can judge your story anonymously.)
13. Online and email submissions should be in Word.doc or PDF.
14. Longlisted and shortlisted entrants will be notified by email on the day of the longlist and shortlist announcements.
15. Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted.
16. No editorial feedback will be offered to entrants.
17. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the judging process.
18. Galley Beggar Press will have the exclusive right to publish the longlisted, shortlisted, and winning stories for a period of six months from first publication. To aid audience participation, readers will be able to access these stories freely. Entrants also grant Galley Beggar a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free licence to publish shortlisted entries in limited edition mini-book format, as well as on the website, and in promotional materials related to the competition. Copyright in all submitted work remains with the author. (After six months authors can ask for their stories to be removed from the website).
19. We do not want to see AI generated work. Entrants must be able to warrant that they have submitted creative work conceived and written by themselves where structure, character development, plot, conception and narrative voice originate directly from themselves and that AI has not been used to generate or rewrite substantive text in their submitted story. Should concerns arise regarding authorship, the organisers may request additional information from an entrant about the creation and development of their work. The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any author who is unable to provide satisfactory information about authorship and originality and also to withdraw awards or publication and to reassign prizes where appropriate.
19. Prizes: The winner will receive a cash prize of £3000. Shortlisted authors will receive a cash prize of £200. Longlisted authors will receive £50 in book tokens, plus a 4-book subscription to Galley Beggar Press.
20. Only submissions which meet all terms and conditions will be considered.
21. By entering the awards, each entrant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions.