The Caine Prize for African Writers 2026

Opportunity type: Prize

For:  writers & publishers 

Deadline: 27/02/26

Rewards:  £10,000 prize +  Publication

Location Eligibility: Worldwide (must be of African descent)

About this opportunity

The Caine Prize for African Writing invites publishers worldwide to submit outstanding short fiction by African writers. 

Rewards

• Cash prize of £10,000
• Publication and promotion: Shortlisted stories may be reproduced in Caine Prize anthologies, digital, audio, and audiovisual formats
• Marketing and exposure: Excerpts may be published for promotional purposes, with author credit
• Participation in prize events: Shortlisted writers are invited to online and in-person events, including panel discussions, readings, interviews, and podcasts

Eligibility

• Fictional short story, 3,000–10,000 words
•  Stories must have been published between 27 February 2021 and 27 February 2026.
• Entries must be submitted by a publisher. This includes publishers of physical and digital books, literary journals, magazines, and arts-oriented websites. Kindly note that the publisher submitting the entry cannot also be the author of the story.
• Writers must be over 18 years of age at the time of submission.
• Self-published and unpublished short stories are not eligible.
• Translations into English are eligible (prize split 70/30 between author/translator)

Entry Fee

Free

How to Apply

Apply using the link:The Caine Prize for African Writing 2026

All questions regarding this award should be sent to submissions@caineprize.com