The RTÉ Short Story Competition has announced its ten shortlisted entries for 2026, marking the 40th anniversary of the literary contest.
Shortlisted Stories and Authors for 2026
Judges Aingeala Flannery, Tristan Rosenstock, and Jan Carson completed a blind judging process to narrow down the nearly 2,500 entries to a final ten. The shortlisted stories, listed in alphabetical order by title, include:
- ‘A Fork In The Road’ by Paul Edmondson
- ‘Bubble’ by Jamie Samson
- ‘Co-Operative’ by Cathy Shah
- ‘Cottage Pie’ by Alison Jameson
- ‘Discover: Nature’ by Alicia McAuley
- ‘Inertia’ by John Armstrong
- ‘James Langley Was In Love With Sean Harris’ by Stephanie O’Connor
- ‘Like Clean Windows Kill The Birds’ by John O’Donovan
- ‘Na Rúisigh’ by Rónán Mac Con Iomaire
- ‘The Light From Other Places’ by Kartikay Gupta
Judges Highlight High Standard and Diverse Perspectives
Judge Jan Carson noted the exceptional standard of this year’s pool, stating that the judges were in ultimate agreement regarding the high quality of the submissions. Fellow judge Tristan Rosenstock pointed out that many entries reflected a sense of foreboding and apprehension in unsettling times, while also capturing the kindness of strangers and human resilience.
Aingeala Flannery emphasized the strong health of the short story format in Ireland. As a former finalist herself, Flannery remarked that the competition provided the vital confidence needed to bring her own work into the public sphere.
Broadcast and Awards Schedule
All ten shortlisted stories will be published on rte.ie/culture on Saturday, October 17, 2026. Starting Monday, October 19, 2026, the stories will be read by actors and broadcast over a two-week period on RTÉ Radio 1’s Late Date with Cathal Murray and Ray Cuddihy.
The works will also feature regularly on RTÉ Radio 1’s Arena ahead of a live awards special. The ceremony takes place at 7:00 PM on Friday, October 30, 2026, broadcast live on RTÉ Radio 1 and the RTÉ Listen App from Poetry Ireland on Parnell Square, Dublin. The event will feature live readings of extracts from all ten stories, followed by judge discussions and the announcement of the winners.
Prizes and Competition Legacy
The winning writer will receive €5,000, while the second and third-place finishers will take home €4,000 and €3,000 respectively. The remaining seven runners-up will each receive €300. Public ticket details for the Parnell Square event will be announced on Arena.
Established in 1986 to honor writer and broadcaster Francis MacManus, the competition has served as a critical launchpad for Irish authors over the past forty years. Past winners and shortlisted alumni include Claire Keegan, Danielle McLaughlin, Liz Nugent, and Colin Walsh. The competition remains free to enter for any writer over the age of 18 living on the island of Ireland or holding an Irish passport abroad.
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