We are delighted to announce our 2026 Short Story Competition, open to aspiring writers aged 12–17 who are not currently enrolled at Akademeia High School. If you love writing, we hope you will share your ideas with us as we celebrate the enduring power of stories to educate, entertain, and inspire!
Why enter?
- Win a summer school place in the UK (one per age category: 12–14 and 15–17)
- Showcase your story to a panel of academic staff
- Attend the final stage at Akademeia High School in Warsaw
- Join a community that celebrates creativity, storytelling, and original thinking
Who can enter?
- Students aged 12–17
- Not currently enrolled at Akademeia High School
- Free to enter
Task
Choose one of the following tasks and write a short story of between 800-1500 words in response.
Email your response to [email protected] by March 23, 2026.
- Write a story about time travel to the future. Your protagonist encounters surprising technology. This new reality could be a dystopia, utopia, or something in between. (Science Fiction)
- Write a story about a shocking turn of events. Your protagonist is either the witness to these events or a detective tasked with solving the crime. (Detective/Thriller)
- Write a story about a family. The story should explore the complex dynamics of family and feature a strong sense of place and time. (Literary/Family saga)
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to discuss their stories and respond to questions from a panel of faculty at Akademeia High School on May 4, 2026.
Candidates should read the full regulations carefully before entering the competition.
Deadlines
| Stage | Deadline | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Competition opens | February 2 |
| Submissions close | March 23 | |
| Stage 2 | Invitations to second stage | April 3 |
| Second stage at Akademeia High School | May 4 |
