NEXT CONTEST:
2025 CHRISTMAS HORROR SHORT STORY COMPETITION
PRIZES: £1,000 | CLOSES: 26th JAN, 2026 | WORDS: 3,000 max
Our Christmas Horror Short Story Contest is open to writers working across the full spectrum of horror. We welcome everything from dark and disturbing tales to quiet, atmospheric stories and even cosy horror. If your story is subtle, strange, eerie, or gently unsettling rather than outright scary, it absolutely belongs here.
Entries will not be judged on how frightening they are, but on their overall quality: storytelling, craft, originality, and voice.
Christmas-themed horror means your story should embrace the themes, symbols, and traditions of the season. Think snow, Santa, reindeer, presents, Christmas trees, festive meals, winter lights, or seasonal gatherings. But we also want to be inclusive: your story can still fit the contest as long as it taps into the seasonal mood.
Entry: £8