Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize 2026
Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize 2026 is now open for entries!
Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize 2026, organized by Desperate Literature, an international bookshop in Madrid, Spain, has been recently opened for entires, looking for well crafted, boundary-pushing fiction.
Short description
Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize 2026, organised by Desperate Literature, an international bookshop in Madrid, Spain, has been recently opened for entires.
The aim of this prize is both to celebrate the best of new short fiction and to give winners the most visibility possible for their writing.
That’s why organisers have teamed up with sixteen different literary and artistic institutions to not only offer cash prizes and writing retreats but also to ensure that all their shortlisters have the opportunity to be published in multiple print and online journals, have their work put in front of literary agents, and present their stories at an event.
Organiser is looking for well crafted, boundary-pushing fiction. But a great story of any genre is a great story, so organiser is also looking for anything with a strong sense of character, engagement, and tension.
Submission requirements:
➜ Submissions may include images, but the maximum file upload size per entry is 10MB.
➜ Submissions must be previously unpublished works of fiction of up to 2000 words and must be in English.
Unpublished means unpublished in any form in any language, online or in print.
➜ Stories should be submitted in .pdf format.
Who may enter?
The competition is open to anyone over the age of 18.
Prize:
➜ First Prize: 2,000 € and a week’s residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation
➜ Runner-up Prizes (2): 1,000 €
Entry fees:
The entry fee is €20 for the first submission and €10 for each subsequent submission.
