The new Hryhir Short Fiction Award, established by Tereny Cultural Agency will be presented for the best Ukrainian book of short fiction published in Ukraine. The winner will receive a $4,000 prize and opportunities for international promotion. Open call starts from March 16, 2026, until September 1, 2026.
This award aims to recognize the most outstanding voices in short fiction, encourage the publication of short story collections in Ukraine, and support the translation and international promotion of contemporary Ukrainian short prose. It was named in honor of Hryhir Tiutiunnyk, one of the leading Ukrainian prose writers of the Sixtiers generation and a master of the short form.
Why Short-Form Fiction—and Why Now
Today, very few short story collections are published in Ukraine. Tetiana Teren, the CEO of Tereny Cultural Agency, explains that it is not only because publishers consider them less commercially viable, but also due to a lack of literary journals that traditionally provide a space for authors to publish their first works and develop their craft. As a result, writers are often expected to produce long-form works from the outset, while the genre that most precisely captures lived experience remains underrepresented.
"For our literature that is being created at the time when Ukraine is fighting for its
independence, short-form fiction is as important as essay writing. It is the shorter literary forms that are most suitable for capturing our emotions, and for initial reflections on what we’ve been through," she says.
The award coordinator and literary critic Tetiana Petrenko adds, «The most striking works of recent years have been in shorter forms: military autofiction, reportage, and poetry. What is missing from this landscape is short literary fiction. This award is intended to give both writers and the publishing market an incentive to engage with this genre, continuing the tradition of Vasyl Stefanyk, Hryhorii Kosynka, and Hryhir Tiutiunnyk, while also helping Ukrainian literature respond more swiftly to the current events and communicate our experience to a global audience.»
Open call Guidelines
The Hryhir Short Fiction Award recognizes the book of the year in the short fiction genre, focusing on innovation, originality of the author’s voice, and mastery of the form. This year, submissions are open for books published in 2025 and 2026.
Entries will be accepted from publishers, literary agencies, cultural and academic institutions, media outlets, creative associations, diplomatic institutions, as well as the members of the Selection Committee. To apply, applicants must complete an online submission form and provide a digital copy of the submitted book along with two printed copies. Open call starts from March 16 to September 1, 2026. The shortlist will be announced in September.
Selection Committee
The 2026 Selection Committee of the Hryhir Short Fiction Award includes Ivan Andrusyak (poet, children’s writer, translator, editor), Myroslava Barchuk (journalist, TV host, essayist, documentary filmmaker), Tamara Hundorova (professor, literary scholar, corresponding member of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), Rostyslav Semkiv (literary scholar, publisher, author of books on literature), and Tetiana Teren (CEO of Tereny Cultural Agency).
Special Distinction from Radio Kultura
As part of the Hryhir Short Fiction Award, Radio Kultura will also present a special distinction for one more book, for artistic excellence and the strength of the author’s voice. The award includes the production of a radio adaptation to be broadcast on air.
Award Ceremony
The winner will be announced on December 5, 2026, in Poltava, on the birthday of Hryhir Tiutiunnyk. The laureate will receive a $4,000 prize along with opportunities for international promotion and translation of their book. By holding the ceremony in Poltava, Tereny Cultural Agency seeks to promote cultural decentralization and to honor Hryhir Tiutiunnyk’s place of birth.
In 2026, the Hryhir Short Fiction Awardis implemented in partnership with Razom for Ukraine Foundation.
More information about the award is available on the project’s official page.
Background
Hryhir Tiutiunnyk (1931—1980) was one of the key masters of Ukrainian short prose and a representative of the Sixtiers generation. During his lifetime and posthumously, more than ten collections of his prose were published, including Zaviaz, Derevii, Batkivski porohy, Kraynebo, and Korinnia. He is the author of approximately forty short stories, several novellas (Klymko, A Light Far Away in the Steppe, The Siege), as well as stories for children. He was awarded the Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine posthumously in 1989.
Tereny Cultural Agency was founded in 2025 to promote the decentralization of cultural processes in Ukraine and support regional cultural initiatives. In 2026, the agency established the Hryhir Literary Award for the best short story collection in Ukraine. The organization develops, preserves, and promotes the cultural heritage of Ukrainian regions through cultural spaces, research, professional training, cultural expeditions, prizes, and publishing and media projects.
Razom for Ukraine is a leading U.S.-based charitable foundation dedicated to building a secure, democratic, and prosperous Ukraine. Founded in 2014, Razom responds to urgent needs in Ukraine while investing in long-term systemic solutions. The foundation strengthens healthcare and emergency services, supports civil society, and, internationally, engages in advocacy while fostering cultural and educational connections. Recognizing the global importance of Ukraine’s future, Razom supports local communities and leaders while connecting Ukraine with the world.
Radio Kultura is the third channel of Ukraine’s Public Broadcasting Company and the country’s leading cultural and educational media platform. The station focuses on literature, the arts, and intellectual life in Ukraine, providing global audiences with access to high culture and expert analysis while fulfilling its mission to preserve national identity and promote Ukrainian cultural narratives.
