2026 Hastings Book Festival Competition winners
Short Story WINNERS
JUDGE: Robin Pridy
1st prize £250 and a trophy, 2nd prize of £100, and 3rd prize £50
WINNER The First Lambs of Spring by Seán McNicholl, Armagh
SECOND PRIZE Fira's Gift by Valerie Free, Canada
THIRD PRIZE New Beginnings by Rebecca Marshall, Hastings
HIGHLY COMMENDED
A Field Off the Edge of the Map by Seán McNicholl, Armagh
Cloch na nDeor by Marcin Ostasz, Girona
New Year's Resolution by Abby Fermont, Wilstone (Hertfordshire)
RTA by Julian Le Saux, Cranbrook (Kent)
SUSSEX PRIZE
Sussex Prize for writers living in East or West Sussex
PRIZE: an independent two-night writing retreat at Starcroft Farm Cabins
WINNER Beneath the Station Clock by Patrizia Pisano, Hailsham
SUSSEX PRIZE HIGHLY COMMENDED
Petey's Luck by Sue Gilbert, St Leonards-on-Sea
The Correction by Jordie Black, St Leonards on Sea
Off Ground Touch by Claire T Allen, Bexhill
Two Letters: AI by Bob Baker, St Leonards-on-Sea
Poetry WINNERS
JUDGE John McCullough (prizes presented by Henry Normal)
1st prize £250 and a trophy, 2nd prize of £100, and 3rd prize £50
WINNER The Stardust Brother by Catherine Sweeney, St Leonards on Sea.
SECOND PRIZE Poultice by Andy Breckenridge, Brighton.
THIRD PRIZE Bess by Shirley Anne Cook, Uxbridge.
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Matador by Robert Heighton, Downham Market
Lara Croft pops over for a cuppa by Kat Dixon, London
Common Ground by Mike Gould, Bexhill-on-Sea
Initiation Again by Ben Fairlight, Hastings
Sunflowers by Judith Shaw, St Leonards on Sea
The Afterlife Is A Swimming Pool by Arbër Selmani, Republic of Kosovo
Mirror by Ellie Scott, London
Downriver Moritat by Greg Sendi, Chicago
Wall Poem by Tamsin Hopkins, London
SUSSEX PRIZE
Sussex Prize for writers living in East or West Sussex
PRIZE: an independent two-night writing retreat at Starcroft Farm Cabins
WINNER I didn't know brown was the colour of grief by Ella B. Winters, Burgess Hill
Founder’s Prize for Creative
Non-Fiction WINNERS
JUDGE Sam Davey
1st prize £75 and a trophy, 2nd prize of £50, and 3rd prize £25
WINNER Cross-country by Simon Finch, St Leonards-on-Sea
SECOND PRIZE: Welcome to my world by Melvyn Eldridge, Eastbourne
THIRD PRIZE: Just How it is by Bronwen Griffiths, Northiam, Rye
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Algo Rhythms by Nancy Mamini-Serna, Hastings
Consumed by Isobel Farmiloe, St Leonards
Thank you to everyone who entered
Hastings Book Festival team
