The 2026 CBC Short Story Prize longlist has been unveiled, featuring 30 writers selected from almost 3,000 submissions from various regions in Canada.
The list includes works such as “YSL Classes” by Oluwatoke Adejoye, “Things I Know for Sure” by Katrina Agbayani, and “Pattern Recognition” by Amber Allen, among others. Submissions undergo a rigorous two-tiered evaluation process by reading committees before the final longlist is determined.
Anonymously judged on language use, originality, and writing style, the works will be further assessed by a jury consisting of Maria Reva, Terry Fallis, and Tracey Lindberg to select the shortlist and eventual winner. The winner of the 2026 CBC Short Story Prize will receive $6,000 from the Canada Council for the Arts, a two-week writing residency at Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, and publication on CBC Books. Four finalists will also be awarded $1,000 each.
Last year’s recipient was Dorian McNamara for the story “You (Streetcar at Night).” The French-language competition longlist has also been disclosed, and submissions are open for the 2026 CBC Poetry Prize until June 1. For those interested in the CBC Literary Prizes, the 2027 CBC Short Story Prize will open in September, followed by the 2027 CBC Nonfiction Prize in January.