2026 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition Shortlist Announcement
Hawkeye is thrilled to announce the shortlist for the 2026 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition!
The judges have narrowed down the longlist to create the shortlist of the top 10 entries for this year’s competition. The shortlisted stories and entrants conveyed an excellent grasp of writing conventions and literary themes. Judges noted that the best entries this year were those that both reflected the theme of ‘I’m Glad You Called’ and delivered significant emotional impact within a well-written story.
Hawkeye Publishing Director Carolyn Martinez said, ‘Our judges faced an incredibly strong field of entries this year, making the task of selecting our top 10 no easy feat. This shortlist represents some of the most compelling and memorable stories submitted, with each writer demonstrating a strong command of storytelling, distinctive voice and thoughtful characterisation. The shortlisted stories stood out not only for their literary quality, but for their ability to draw readers in and leave a lasting impression. Congratulations to our shortlisted writers, and thank you to everyone who entered and shared their stories with us—we are thrilled to celebrate such an impressive collection of emerging and established voices.’
2026 Sydney Hammond Memorial Short Story Competition Shortlist, in no particular order:
Missing the Mark by Jane Lingard
Slow Light by Nancy Bajwa
A Family Matter by Richard Yaxley
He’s Back by Lee McKerracher
Locked Drawers by Andrea Wilson
Fridays that Matter by Jenny Porter
Because One Day by Jennifer Anne
The Packed Cone by Ned Stephenson
Reconnection by Kylie Gardiner
Watching by Jackie Bos
Please join us in congratulating the shortlisted entrants. The judges deliberated extensively over the shortlist as the quality of the longlist was of such a high standard. Judges were especially impressed with entries that grabbed their attention, evoked an emotional response, and created a broader sense of a world beyond the immediate story being told, despite the minimal word count.
The top 40 stories, including the shortlist, will be published in an anthology titled I’m Glad You Called, with the cover design based on the winning story. Longlisted entrants will each receive one complimentary eBook copy.
Pre-order your physical copy here. This is a limited-edition publication and will only be available through pre-orders until 30 October 2026. All pre-ordered copies will be printed and shipped in time for Christmas.
The winners will be announced on 6 November 2026. Ensure you’re subscribed to our newsletter and follow us on Instagram and Facebook to be among the first to see the competition results.