Unveiling the Unexpected: Meet the 2026 We Love Short Shorts Finalists and Hidden Gems!
Stories will go live May 4, along with our May-June 2026 issue. At that time, we will also update this post to reflect the announcement. Our grand-prize winner will receive $250 and publication of their story. Each of the two runners-up will receive $100 and publication.
Flash CNF Contest Finalists
Here are our three finalists, listed in alphabetical order by title:
- “Socks” by Joe Kapitan
- “Tag” by Noah Browne
- “You Can Rehome a Cat But Not a Kid” by Tracie Adams
Honorable Mentions: The Short Shorts Shortlist
Our reading team also identified five honorable mentions for their excellence in capturing the essence of the flash form. These five short-listed stories will appear in future issues of the magazine:
