Maltese author nominated for prestigious short story prize
‘The Baston’s Shadow’ by John Edward DeMicoli follows an NGO worker who assists migrants
Maltese author John Edward DeMicoli has been shortlisted for the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, becoming the first writer from Malta to reach this stage of the competition.
DeMicoli, a 53-year-old writer and genealogist from Naxxar, was selected for his short story The Bastion’s Shadow, which follows an NGO worker assisting migrants in Valletta.
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is widely regarded as one of the most international literary competitions, with entries accepted from across the organisation’s 56 member states and in multiple languages.
This year’s shortlist features 25 writers from 14 countries, chosen from 7,806 submissions across 54 Commonwealth nations.
DeMicoli’s story is included in the Canada and Europe regional shortlist, alongside two entries from the UK. Across all regions, the shortlisted works explore a broad range of themes, including migration, family relationships, displacement, conflict and identity, and are told through perspectives ranging from migrant workers to musicians.
The entries were selected by an international panel of judges, who praised the overall quality of submissions and the strength of storytelling. Chair of judges Louise Doughty said the panel had been faced with “so much beautiful writing”, adding that it was almost impossible to narrow down the entries.
She added that the shortlisted writers demonstrated a strong understanding of the short story form, highlighting works that combined compelling characters with distinctive narrative styles.
The prize is administered by the Commonwealth Foundation and awarded annually for the best unpublished short fiction between 2,000 and 5,000 words. Regional winners, representing five Commonwealth regions, will be announced on May 13 and will each receive £2,500 (€2,870), while the overall winner, to be revealed in late June, will receive £5,000 (€5,740).
Shortlisted stories are set to be published on the Commonwealth Foundation’s online platform Adda, with winning entries later appearing in Granta.
Previous winners and shortlisted authors have described the prize as a significant boost to their careers, opening up opportunities for publication, travel and international recognition