Commonwealth Foundation Creatives has released a shortlist for the 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize. This year's shortlist of 25 writers, representing 18 Commonwealth countries, was chosen by the international judging panel from a record-breaking 8,000 submissions. Writers from Antigua & Barbuda, and Saint Lucia are included for the first time. See the complete list of finalists here.
Regional winners, who each receive £2,500 (about $3,305), will be revealed May 14, with the overall £5,000 (about $6,610) winner named June 25. If the winning short story is a translation into English, the translator receives £750 (about $990). The winning stories are published online by Granta and in a special print collection by Paper + Ink. The shortlisted stories are published in adda, the online literary magazine of the Commonwealth Foundation.
Chair of judges Vilsoni Hereniko commented: "A great story moves us, causes us to think, and sometimes changes us. This shortlist of relevant, vibrant, and essential reading is made up of the best 25 stories from a pool of almost 8,000 entries. Together, they demonstrate why the short story form must continue to be supported and promoted."