The BBC National Short Story Award (known as the National Short Story Award in 2006 and 2007) is an annual short story contest in the United Kingdom which is open to UK residents and nationals. It has been described as "one of the most prestigious [awards] for a single short story" and the richest prize in the world for a single short story. The award aims to increase interest in the short story genre, particularly British short stories. As of 2017, the winner receives and four shortlisted writers receive each.

It was founded in 2005 and announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival the same year. The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) were the main sponsor with support from BBC Radio 4 and Prospect magazine. Originally, winners received while runners up received and shortlisted writers each. In 2008, the BBC became the main sponsor and the award was renamed from the 'National Short Story Award' to the 'BBC National Short Story Award'.

In 2009, only women were featured on the shortlist. This happened for the second time in 2013 and the fifth time in 2018. In 2018, prize judge Di Speirs noted that the BBC National Short Story Award has never had an all-male shortlist. Short stories written by women typically account for between 50 and 70% of all submissions.

At 26 years old, Canadian writer D. W. Wilson became the youngest ever recipient of the award in 2011. In 2020, Sarah Hall, who won the award in 2013 and 2020, became the first writer to have won the award twice. In 2012, in honour of the 2012 Summer Olympics hosted in London, the competition was open to a global audience for one year only. Ten stories were shortlisted, instead of five, and Bulgarian writer Miroslav Penkov won.

Winners and shortlisted writers

2000s +BBC National Short Story Award winners and finalists, 2006–2009 Year Author Title Result2006WinnerRunner upShortlistMen of IrelandShortlistShortlist2007WinnerSlog's DadRunner upShortlistHow to Get Away with SuicideShortlistWeddings and BeheadingsShortlist2008WinnerRunner upShortlistSurgeShortlistGuidelines for Measures to Cope with Disgraceful and Other EventsShortlist2009WinnerMoss WitchRunner upHitting Trees with SticksShortlistExchange RatesShortlistOther People's GodsShortlist

2010s +BBC National Short Story Award winners and finalists, 2010–2019 Year Author Title Result2010Tea at the MidlandWinnerIf It Keeps on RainingRunner upMy Daughter the RacistShortlistButcher's PerfumeShortlistHaywards HeathShortlist2011WinnerWiresRunner upShortlistRag LoveShortlistShortlist2012East of the WestWinnerSanctuaryRunner upShortlistBefore He Left the FamilyShortlistIn the BasementShortlistShortlistBlack VodkaShortlistEven Pretty Eyes Commit CrimesShortlistShortlistEscape RoutesShortlist2013Mrs FoxWinnerNotes from the House SpiritsRunner upWe Are Watching Something Terrible HappeningShortlistPrepositionsShortlistBarmouthShortlist2014Kilifi CreekWinnerMiss Adele Amidst the CorsetsRunner upShortlistShortlistBad DreamsShortlist2015Briar RoadWinnerBunnyRunner upShortlistDo It Now, Jump the TableShortlistBroderie AnglaiseShortlist2016DisappearancesWinnerMorning, Noon & NightRunner upShortlistGarmentsShortlistIn a Right StateShortlist2017WinnerShortlistMurmurShortlistIf a Book Is Locked There's Probably a Good Reason for That, Don't You Think?ShortlistShortlist2018WinnerShortlistVan Rensburg's CardShortlistSudden TravellerShortlistTo Belong ToShortlist2019WinnerGhillie's MumShortlistMy Beautiful MillennialShortlistShortlistSilver Fish in the Midnight SeaShortlist

2020s +BBC National Short Story Award winners and finalists, 2020– Year Author Title Result2020WinnerScrimshawShortlistCome Down HeavyShortlistIn the Car With the Rain Coming DownShortlistPrayShortlist2021All the People Were Mean and BadWinnerToadstoneShortlistShortlistNight TrainShortlistMaykopsky District, Adyghe OblastShortlist2022Blue 4evaWinnerAnd the Moon Descends on the Temple That WasShortlistFlat 19ShortlistGreen AfternoonShortlistLong Way to Come for a Sip of WaterShortlist2023ComorbiditiesWinner Includes full text of storyGuestsShortlistIt's MeShortlistShortlistChurailShortlist2024Ghost KitchenWinnerShortlistHamlet, a love storyShortlistPiecesShortlistNice DogShortlist2025You Cannot Thread a Moving NeedleWinnerYairShortlistLittle Green ManShortlistTwo HandsShortlistRain, a HistoryShortlist2026DittoWinner Two Minutes to MidnightShortlistLittle LandsShortlistBurning BushShortlistA Second OpinionShortlist

Notes

See also

List of British literary awards List of years in literature

References