It’s been a delight reading all the entries to this year’s Young Writers Competition from across RBWM! The judges have now created a shortlist of young writers. Read on to find out who has been shortlisted…
Let’s celebrate together
Our shortlisted writers are all invited to The Award Ceremony at 7pm on Saturday 10th October at The Old Court, Windsor. The event promises to be an absolute blast with amazing hosts, readings, interviews and lots of well-deserved clapping!
Every shortlisted entrant will receive a free ticket to the ceremony, plus two complimentary tickets for family and friends. Additional tickets can be purchased via the Windsor Festival website Windsor Writers Group Young Writers Competition 2026: Award Ceremony for just £8 for adults and £5 for children. Bring the extended family for a fun evening!
We will write to all short-listed writers to provide details about the Award Ceremony.
Note for the Award Ceremony
- Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.
- There will be a photographer at the event. Photographs will be used on various websites and other media.
WWG Young Writers Competition 2026 – Shortlist
By category in alphabetical order:
| Name | Title | From |
| STORY 11-12 Years Old | ||
| Daisie Weller | Turtle Island | St Peter’s CofE Middle School |
| Phoebe Sall | The Hamster Detective Squad | St Edward’s Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School |
| Tharuli Ratnayaka | Take a Breath for Me | Lives in RBWM |
| Thea Chapman | The Evil Paradise | St Peter’s CofE Middle School |
| STORY 13-15 Years Old | ||
| Darcey Kelsall | Irrational Fear | Lives in RBWM |
| Ellie Heron | The Princess | Claires Court, Maidenhead |
| Eva Farley | Beyond Chernobyl | Claires Court, Maidenhead |
| Milo Downing | The Last Thing He Saw | Eton College |
| Rosie Middleton | The Patient | Claires Court, Maidenhead |
| STORY 16-18 Years Old | ||
| Abbas Al-sadiq | Missing Her Twice | Lives in RBWM |
| Charlie Chadwick | The Beau | Windsor College |
| Constantine Nur Shah | The Storm’s Warning | Eton College |
| POEMS 11-12 Years Old | ||
| Charlotte Lewis | What Really Happens on Inset Days | St Edward’s Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School |
| Anon | Away with the Fairies | St Edward’s Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School |
| Nora Murray Cusati | The Underworld | St Edward’s Royal Free Ecumenical Middle School |
| Ruby Moudrak | Insert Title | Lives in RBWM |
| POEM 13-15 Years Old | ||
| Aditi Arora | The Silence Before Dawn | Marist School, Sunninghill |
| Gabriella Viljoen | The Grand Tree | Charters School |
| Orla Creswell | Countdown | Charters School |
| Soham Kumar | Soham | Eton College |
| POEMS 16-18 Years Old | ||
| Anna Devito | The Hope That Sunk Me | Windsor College |
| Jack Waterman | Still Here | Windsor Boys’ School |
| Saad Aziz | The Boy Who Played the Harp | Desborough College |
A huge thank you to our sponsors
Without your help, we couldn’t have made this competition happen.
Prince Philip Trust Fund – the fund makes a real difference to the quality of life of people from communities across the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead. It focuses support towards disability, health, the elderly, families, children and young people, those in social need and the arts.
Chiltern Bookshops, not only for being brilliant independent bookshops, but also for their generous donation towards our prizes. You can visit their shops in Gerrards Cross or Chorleywood for a unique bookshop experience including some fantastic author events.
LEGOLAND® – their Windsor Resort is a unique family theme park where visitors can take to the road, soar through the skies, and sail the seas in complete safety. With interactive rides, attractions, live shows, building workshops, and driving schools, not to mention a staggering 80 million LEGO®bricks, all set in 150 acres of beautiful parkland.
Tesco – one of the UK’s largest supermarket chains, offering groceries, clothing, electronics, and more. Tesco operates various store formats, including Express and Extra, catering to diverse customer needs. It also emphasizes sustainability and commun
Windsor Writers' Group 