International Jay Yes Short Story Contest 2026

Theme: Seeking Refuge: Stories of Displacement

Genre: Short story

The Jay Yes International Short Story Contest 2026 is a global writing competition created for unpublished writers aspiring to share their stories with the world. Participants are invited to submit original short stories between 2500 and 4000 words.

Exceptional entries may also be considered for further publishing opportunities with the contest’s publishing partner, Zero Degree Publishing. There are other benefits including podcast opportunities for winners and contributors of anthology. With no entry fee and driven by an inclusive literary vision, the contest champions a shared commitment to storytelling. The jury eagerly looks forward to discovering bold, moving, and truly jaw-dropping narratives from across the globe. 

Submissions close 8 May 2026.

Learn more via the competition website here.

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About Sarah Giles

Sarah is a writer and PhD candidate at Swinburne University researching the possibilities of the contemporary short story cycle exploring women’s experiences of isolation, mental illness and relational agency. Her writing has been published in ACE IV, The Writing Mind, The Incompleteness Book, TEXT Journal and Lip Magazine among others. Sarah teaches creative writing at Swinburne University, volunteers as Social Media Coordinator for Q-Lit Festival and serves as a member of the Executive Committee of Management for the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP).