THE FOREMOST PRIZE FOR THE AFRICAN SHORT STORY
Amplifying African writers and their stories
The Caine Prize for African Writing is the foremost international literary prize for a short story by an African author.
INTRODUCING THE PRIZE
A home for the finest African short fiction.
For more than two decades the Caine Prize has discovered and championed writers from across the continent and its diaspora — bringing bold, original short stories to readers around the world, and opening doors that last a lifetime.
2000
The year of the first Caine Prize, awarded in Oxford.
300+
Writers shortlisted and published across the Prize's history.
54
African nations eligible for the Prize each year.
THIS SEASON
ANNOUNCMENT
The 2026 shortlist announced
Five extraordinary stories from across the continent make this year's list.
IN CONVERSATION
Meet this year's panel of judges
The writers and critics reading for the 2026 Prize on what moves them.
PROGRAMMES
Applications open for the workshop
Ten days of craft, community and collaboration for emerging voices.
EXPLORE
CONNECT
info@cainprize.com
NEWSLETTER
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Amplifying African writers and their stories — the foremost international prize for the African short story.