The Caribbean has secured a strong showing on the 2026 Commonwealth Short Story Prize shortlist, with six writers from the region named among this year’s 25 finalists.
Celeste Mohammed was shortlisted for Plenty Time, joining five writers from Trinidad and Tobago: Jamir Nazir (The Serpent in the Grove), Jason Dookeran (Pom Pom Peedeem Pom), Jochelle Greaves Siew (River Mouth), and Roger-Mark De Souza (Pot Hound Republic).
The sixth Caribbean finalist is Guyanese writer Cosmata Lindie, shortlisted for The Metamorphosis of Miss Alice.
Administered by the Commonwealth Foundation, the prize is one of the most respected platforms for short fiction, with this year’s shortlist selected from 7,806 entries across the Commonwealth.
Mohammed, best known for her award-winning debut Pleasantview, continues to be part of a wider Caribbean literary wave gaining sustained international recognition.
Five regional winners will be announced on 13 May, ahead of the overall winner in June.
