A total of 30 writers from various regions in Canada have been selected for the longlist of the 2026 CBC Short Story Prize from a pool of nearly 3,000 entries. The longlist features a diverse range of stories, including works like “YSL Classes” by Oluwatoke Adejoye, “Things I Know for Sure” by Katrina Agbayani, and “Pattern Recognition” by Amber Allen among others.
The selection process involves two rounds of assessments. Initially, a reading committee of experienced editors and writers reviews each submission, with two readers evaluating every entry. Approximately 100 submissions are shortlisted from this stage and forwarded to a second reading committee, which ultimately determines the final 30 entries for the longlist.
Entries are judged anonymously based on language usage, subject originality, and writing style by the jury, which includes Maria Reva, Terry Fallis, and Tracey Lindberg. The shortlist for the prize will be unveiled on April 30, and the winner will be announced on May 7.
The winner of the 2026 CBC Short Story Prize will receive a cash prize of $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and have their work published on CBC Books. Additionally, four finalists will each be awarded $1,000 by the Canada Council for the Arts and have their stories featured on CBC Books.
Last year’s champion was Dorian McNamara, recognized for his piece “You (Streetcar at Night).” The French-language competition also disclosed its longlist, and more information can be found on Prix de la nouvelle Radio-Canada’s website.
For those interested in the CBC Literary Prizes, submissions are currently open for the 2026 CBC Poetry Prize until June 1. The 2027 CBC Short Story Prize will open in September, followed by the 2027 CBC Nonfiction Prize in January.
