The Best Short Stories 2026

The prestigious annual anthology features prize-winning stories by an international array of talented writers, including Weike Wang, Colm Tóibín, Louise Erdrich, Samanta Schweblin, Jenny Xie, Kevin Wilson, Brandon Taylor, and Catherine Lacey.

Continuing a century-long tradition of cutting-edge literary excellence, this year's edition contains twenty prizewinning stories chosen from the thousands published in magazines over the previous year. Guest editor Tommy Orange has brought his own refreshing perspective to the prize, selecting stories by an engaging mix of celebrated names and emerging voices. The winning stories are accompanied by an introduction by Orange, observations from the winning writers on what inspired them, and an extensive resource list of magazines that publish short fiction.

THE WINNING STORIES

"Five Bridges," Colm Tóibín
"Flowers and Their Meanings," Marie-Helene Bertino
"American Realism," Brandon Taylor
"The Hare," Ismael Ramos, translated from the Galician by Jacob Rogers
"Where Are You and Where Is My Money," Ucheoma Onwutuebe
"Love of My Days," Louise Erdrich
"Stick Season," Jenny Xie
"She-Bear," Evgenia Nekrasova, translated from the Russian by Marianna Suleymanova
"This Time and the Next," Noel Quiñones
"Pretend," Mary Williams
"Case Study," Weike Wang
"Inês," João Pedro Vala
"Tender," Sarah LaBrie
"Earshot," Guka Han, translated from the French by Katie Shireen Assef
"The Masterclass," William Pei Shih
'Welcome to the Club," Samanta Schweblin, translated from the Spanish by Megan McDowell
"Waiting, a Quintet," Kimberly Blaeser
"Muscle to Muscle, Toe to Toe," Kim Samek
"All Stories," Kevin Wilson
"The Ghost Coat," Catherine Lacey

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs