Could You Write the UK’s Next Great Story?
BBC 500 Words is back, and your imagination could take you all the way!
Calling all young writers, daydreamers and brilliant storytellers! BBC 500 Words is back for 2026, giving children across the UK the chance to turn their wildest ideas into an amazing short story.
The competition is open to children aged 5 to 11, with two age categories: 5 to 7 and 8 to 11. Entries opened on Tuesday 29 September 2026 and close at 9pm on Friday 6 November 2026.
And the best bit?
Your story can be about almost anything you can imagine!
A talking dog who becomes Prime Minister? A football match on Mars? A mysterious door underneath your school? A superhero whose only power is making the perfect piece of toast?
It’s completely up to you.
It’s your ideas that matter
You don't need to be the best speller in your class to enter.
The competition is about creativity, imagination and telling a story that you would love to read. Perfect spelling, grammar and punctuation aren't what the judges are looking for.
Your story needs to be 500 words or fewer and must be your own original idea. It should be a story rather than a poem or rap, and it needs to be written by one person rather than a group. Importantly, this year's rules also say that stories must not be created, written or developed using AI.
So this competition really is about YOUR imagination and YOUR voice.
What will the judges look for?
The judges will be looking at five big things:
🎭 Characters: Have you created someone interesting or memorable?
🗺️ Plot: Does something exciting, funny, strange or surprising happen?
💡 Originality: Is your idea different and imaginative?
✏️ Language: How have you used words to bring your story to life?
😃 Enjoyment: Most importantly, is it a story people will enjoy reading?
You certainly don't need to make your story complicated. Sometimes one brilliant idea is all you need.
There will be gold, silver and bronze winners in both age categories, with prizes including an illustrated version of the winning story, a special winners' book and a National Book Token voucher.
The competition has also had some pretty spectacular celebrations. Earlier in 2026, finalists from the previous competition were welcomed to Windsor Castle, where The Queen hosted a special reception following the recording of the Grand Final.
Ready to start?
You don't have to know your whole story before you begin.
Start with one idea.
Who is your main character?
What do they want?
What unexpected thing happens to them?
And, most importantly...
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
Grab a pencil, open your notebook and let your imagination loose.
Your 500 words could take you anywhere.
Remember
BBC 500 Words 2026/27
Open: 29 September 2026
Closing date: 9pm, Friday 6 November 2026
Age: 5 to 11
Maximum: 500 words
Your story. Your imagination. Your 500 words. What will you create?