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Every year, it gets harder and harder to narrow down the submissions. As always, we are continually blown away by the fantastic talent and imagination of authors all around the globe. This year, thanks to you, we had the highest amount of submissions EVER, which certainly didn't made picking the longlist any easier! Huge thanks to all of you that entered.

This year, there are 10 stories on the 2026 Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition longlist. Middle Grade is in the spotlight this year, with 8 stories across horror, adventure, and fantasy making the cut.

Announcing the 2026 longlist:

1. Unfamiliar by Nicholas Cairns

2. Emma and the Spy Beluga by Laura Caroniti

3. Technicolour Dreaming by Melanie Dillon

4. Death Stream by Ryan Fitzgerald

5. The Queen and the Quill by Tarasyn Hanna

6. Lightfoot and Mole by Rachel Kenefick

7. Garbage and Ghosts by Heather Knutson

8. Wish I Was You by Dilichi Lawal

9. Rupali by Usma Malik

10. Luca and the Time Thief by Lowri Ribbons

Massive congratulations to our talented longlisted authors. We can’t wait to find out which five of these stories will reach our shortlist – and which one will win our prize of publication!

We hope to announce the shortlist here on our website and across our Instagram early September, so watch this space for more news …