The 2026 Furphy Literary Award Open Short Story Competition
Everyone can write at least one good story. That was the belief of J. F. Archibald, the editor and founder of the famous nineteenth-century weekly, The Bulletin, who invited his readers to become contributors. It was this encouragement that led Joseph Furphy, working in his brother’s foundry at Shepparton, to write his ‘offensively Australian’ novel, Such is Life, using the pseudonym of ‘Tom Collins’.
In the spirit of Archibald and honouring the author of Such is Life, the Furphy Literary Award has been established to promote and extend the tradition of story telling, both factual and fictional, that is so much part of Australian life.
- Theme: Australian Life In All Its Diversity.
- Length: Not more than 5,000 words
- Reward: Prize Money: 1st Prize – $15,000 and La Trobe University Shepparton Residency (subject to availability),
2nd Prize – $3,000, 3rd Prize – $2,000 - All prizes: Publication of selected works in an annual publication
- Registration opens: February 1st, 2026
- Closing date for entries: April 30, 2026
- Entrants must be Australian Citizens or residents who are 18 years or older.
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Enquiries about submissions should be directed to the Furphy Literary Award. Please always refer to their website for complete details and information.
Please note, this call is run by the Furphy Literary Award, not the Commonwealth Foundation.
