Entries are now open for the 2026 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, one of the world’s leading prizes for short fiction and a fantastic opportunity for writers to showcase their storytelling. Run by Australian Book Review, the prize invites writers to submit an original short story for the chance to win significant prize money and publication. Need to strengthen your short-fiction writing craft before submitting? Our Short Story Essentials course will show you how to shape compelling narratives, build memorable characters and refine your short fiction.
From the competition website:
ABR welcomes entries in the 2026 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize. The Jolley Prize is worth a total of $12,500 and is for an original work of short fiction of between 2,000 and 5,000 words, written in English. This is the sixteenth time the Jolley Prize has run and it is one of the world’s leading prizes for short fiction.
Prize Money: $12,500 (first prize: $6,000, second prize: $4,000, third prize: $2,500)
Dates: Opens 2 March 2026 and closes 18 May 2026
Judges: Delia Falconer, Jonathan Ricketson and Beejay Silcox
Exclusivity
Entries may be offered elsewhere during the judging of the Jolley Prize. If an entrant is longlisted and has their story offered elsewhere, the entrant will have 24 hours to decide if they wish to withdraw their story on offer elsewhere or from the Jolley Prize. Exclusivity is essential for longlisted stories to remain in contention for shortlisting.
Entry fees
- Online entry (current ABR subscriber) – $20
- Online entry (standard/non subscriber) – $30*
- Non-subscribers will receive digital access to ABR free of charge for four months.
- Special online entry + subscription bundles
Subsequent entries may be submitted at the subscriber rate:
- Online entry + 1-year digital subscription – $100
- Online entry + 1-year print & digital subscription (Australia) – $130
- Online entry + 1-year print & digital subscription (NZ and Asia) – $220
- Online entry + 1-year print & digital subscription (Rest of World) – $240
- Online entry + 1-year print & digital subscription (USA) – $370
ABR warmly acknowledges the generous support of ABR Patron Ian Dickson AM, who makes the Jolley Prize possible in this lucrative form.
