Newcastle Short Story Award 2026
Since 2012, the Newcastle Short Story Award has attracted Australia’s brightest storytelling talent, offering both emerging and established writers the chance to showcase their work. Each year, esteemed judges, skilled in the short story form, choose the most compelling entries to craft an anthology that celebrates and showcases the diversity of Australian storytelling. Winning the Newcastle Short Story Award marks a writer’s achievement in the art of short fiction.
Explore past winners in our previous anthologies.
2026 Shortlist
Hunter Writers’ Centre is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2026 Newcastle Short Story Award, one of Australia’s leading short fiction prizes. This year’s shortlisted stories will be published in the annual anthology, launching alongside the announcement of the prize winners in November. The prize pool includes a $3,000 first prize, with other awards recognising excellence in short story form.
The 2026 Newcastle Short Story Award Anthology, edited by Jane Messer, is now available for pre-order.
| Title | Author |
|---|---|
| Terms of endearment | Zeinah Alman |
| Visiting hours | Jennifer Barham |
| Spectacle | Christina Bowkett |
| The ink spot | Linda Brucesmith |
| Summons | Jarad Bruinstroop |
| Raising wolves on black bones | Memphis Carter |
| It started with Abby | Lauren Cooper |
| Needs must | Vicky Daddo |
| Waiting on clouds | Odette Des Forges |
| #21 | Jacqueline Hodder |
| Itch | Kalindi Izzard |
| Butter marked in foil | Sharmila Jayasinghe |
| Rene Magritte's lost short story | Brian Joyce |
| White-out | Shari Lynelle |
| Use your judgement | Angela Micheletto |
| My cousins and I | Mario Norus |
| The driver | Mark O'Flynn |
| Irina | Andrea Pavleka |
| Fraqnz Kafka's sister | Peter Purchase |
| The Joy Street Reviews | Simon Rowe |
| The ethics of fishing | Kit Scriven |
| The bed you made | Kathy Shortland-Jones |
| The ledger | Tim Strube |
| Membranes | Eli Sutherland |
| Four days on Tranh Hai Street | Lesley Synge |
| Rain and Bow | Jane Turner Goldsmith |
| My last New Year's Eve | Eben Venter |
| Pig | Jay Ward |
| This ashtray has training wheels | Ahlia Williams |
| The Haunting of Apartment 417 | Aveline Yang |
Preorder the Newcastle Short Story Award 2026 Anthology
Newcastle Short Story Award celebrates the art of the short story, showcasing outstanding short fiction from both emerging and established Australian writers.
Contributing writers: Zeinah Alman, Jennifer Barham, Christina Bowkett, Linda Brucesmith, Jarad Bruinstroop, Memphis Carter, Lauren Cooper, Vicky Daddo, Odette Des Forges, Jacqueline Hodder, Kalindi Izzard, Sharmila Jayasinghe, Brian Joyce, Shari Lynelle, Angela Micheletto, Mario Norus, Mark O’Flynn, Andrea Pavleka, Peter Purchase, Simon Rowe, Kit Scriven, Kathy Shortland-Jones, Tim Strube, Eli Sutherland, Lesley Synge, Jane Turner Goldsmith, Eben Venter, Jay Ward, Ahlia Williams, and Aveline Yang
Submission Information
Key Information
The Newcastle Short Story Award is open to Australian citizens and permanent residents aged 18 years or older. Each year, we invite submissions of original, unpublished short fiction.
Shortlisted stories are published in the Newcastle Short Story Award anthology, and prizewinners are announced at an awards celebration in November.
Key Dates
Entries open: Friday 1 May 2026
Entries close: 8 pm (AEST), Sunday 12 July 2026
Shortlist announced: September 2026
Winner’s announcement, award celebration, and anthology launch: November 2026
Entry Guidelines
For a more detailed overview of the terms and conditions of entry, please see Terms and Conditions.
Format: Word documents only (.doc or .docx)
Length: Maximum 2,000 words, including title and any subheadings
Genre: Fiction only — no poetry or plays
Original work only: Stories must not have been previously published in print or online
Blind submission: Do not include your name in the story or filename
AI policy: Entries must be written by you. Any use of AI tools must be declared
Awards
First Prize: $3,000
Second Prize: $1,500
Third Prize: $500
Members Prize: $500 (for current members of Hunter Writers’ Centre)
Highly Commended: $250
Entry Fees
Hunter Writers’ Centre members: $22 (incl. GST)
Non-members: $27.50 (incl. GST)
One story = One entry = One fee. There is no limit to the number of entries.
How to enter
Before submitting, please read the Terms and Conditions and Frequently Asked Questions.
Click the button below or click the link to complete the online submission form and upload your story. There is no limit to the number of entries, just remember that each story requires its own entry and fee.
After submitting, you will receive a confirmation email with a copy of your entry form. If you don’t receive this within 24 hours, please check your spam folder. If it is still missing, email us at contact@hunterwriterscentre.org
Introducing the 2026 Judges
Jane Messer
Jane Messer is a writer, former Associate Professor of Creative Writing and Vogel Award judge, and the founding director of StorySALOON: Short Stories, Centre Stage. Her latest book is Raven Mother: War, Inheritance and Family, a memoir. Recent essays and short fiction have appeared in The London Magazine, AXON, Meniscus and Life Writing.
Anna Solding
Anna Solding is a writer, editor and publisher. She is the founder and managing director of MidnightSun Publishing as well as the co-founder and co-director of The Australian Short Story Festival. Anna has a Masters and PhD in Creative Writing from The University of Adelaide and she is always on the look-out for great short stories.