June Fest National Short Story Competition
Open for entries 27 February – 2 April
Word limit: 2,000
Closing date: 2nd April (midnight)
Entry fee: €10 per story - click here to pay
The competition invites writers aged 18+ from across Ireland to submit original, unpublished work in English. Open to all writers who are residents on the island of Ireland at the time of submission, the competition aims to celebrate the art of storytelling. The story, of 2000 words or fewer, can be on any subject. Translated work is not in the scope of this competition. Entrants may submit more than one entry. Once entered, no alterations can be made to the submission. Simultaneous submissions are accepted but please notify us immediately should your work be accepted elsewhere.
There are 10 free entries for writers on a low income, please email junefesttreasurer@gmail.com to request one of these – they will be granted on a first come, first served basis.
Prizes
1st Prize
One week’s fully-catered week in residence at Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Annaghmakerrig for the winning writer only (worth €490) - this does not include any travel costs.
The prize winner has to be over 18. As the centre is geared up for professional artists and published writers, artists and writers in residence are here on their own and family or partners are not accommodated. The centre is in a rural location without televsions.
Artists and writers typically work in their rooms or studios during the day and the artists gather for dinner each evening at 7pm, a routine designed around artists' work schedules.
2nd Prize
A workshop of your choice at the Kildare Writing Centre.
All ten shortlisted writers will be asked to attend the June Fest Literary event in the Riverbank on Sunday June 7th, 2026. The winner and runner-up will be announced at this evening event (see June Fest programme for more details) and they will be invited to read an extract from the winning story.
2026 Judge
John MacKenna - John is the author of twenty-six books—novels, short-stories, memoir, biography and poetry. He has also written a number of stage and radio plays and is a frequent contributor to RTE Radio 1. He is a winner of the Hennessy New Writing Award, the Irish Times Fiction Award and the Cecil Day Lewis Literary Award; his novel The Space Between Us was shortlisted for the Kerry Book of the Year Award. He was recently nominated for the position of Irish Fiction Laureate. His latest book, The Lock-Keeper’s Wife, published by Lilliput Press, was launched in February 2026.
Competition guidelines
The award is open to all writers aged 18+ who are resident on the island of Ireland at the time of submission.
Entries must not have been, by the date of submission, published or broadcast in any medium.
Stories submitted to other publications and competitions are acceptable. If your story is accepted elsewhere, you must inform June Fest immediately by email to junefestcompetition@gmail.com and your entry will be withdrawn.
Entries must be typed, in font size 12pt, black, double-spaced, and single side (A4), and number your pages.
The maximum word count for entries is 2,000 words.
Please submit your Word document by email to junefestcompetition@gmail.com.
To ensure anonymity, please do not write your name or any other personal details on the manuscript. See Submission details below.
The cover letter should be on a separate page to ensure anonymity. See Submission details below.
Your entry must be accompanied by a €10 fee. The proceeds of the competition cover prize administration.
Payment can be made via PayPal (there is the option to use credit/debit card also) – click here to pay. Payment will NOT be accepted via cash or cheque.
Stories generated by AI will not be accepted. Non-fiction, essays, memoirs, graphic novels, or poetry will not be accepted.
The decision of the adjudicator is final. No editorial feedback can be provided on stories.
A shortlist of ten entrants will be notified by May 8th, 2026.
The judge will not engage in any correspondence regarding their decision.
Members of the 2026 June Fest Organising Committee are not eligible to enter the short story competition.
Stories cannot be altered or substituted after entry.
By entering the competition, you are accepting the rules of the competition.
The copyright remains the author’s but each author, in submitting their stories, consents to June Fest publishing online and in print, or otherwise broadcasting, short-listed stories.
Submission Details
Send to: junefestcompetition@gmail.com
Subject: JFSS entry - Name of Short Story
Attachment 1: the story for submission (Word – we cannot accept PDFs or weblinks such as Google Drive). As the competition is judged anonymously, we request that you do not write your name or personal details anywhere on this document.
Attachment 2: cover letter (separate text document (Word – we cannot accept PDFs or weblinks such as Google Drive) attached to the same email, not in the body of the email). The cover letter should include:
Your name
Story title
Email address
Email associated with your PayPal account (if different from your contact email address)
Phone number
Postal address
Image of PayPal receipt or the PayPal transaction ID number
How your heard about the competition
A brief bio (optional)
Payment of the €10 entry fee can be made here only (available during submission period). PayPal will deduct the fee in your own currency.