The 2026 True Story Award is now accepting applications. Interested candidates are encouraged to click here to learn more about this opportunity and to apply.
About True Story Award
Opportunity Details
This award recognises the impact of a report on society. The following factors are taken into account in the assessment: news value, reader response, possible further consequences in politics, business and society.
Of course, the ideal reportage demonstrates strengths in all three of the aspects mentioned. You must decide in which of the three categories your text should preferably be evaluated. The application procedure will remain unchanged.
Benefits of True Story Award
- Prize Money: 20,000 USD,awarded across three categories (research,storytelling,impact)
- Recognition: Global recognition and media exposure for the winners.
- Networking Opportunities: Engage with international Journalists,Media professionals,and audience members at the True story Festival.
- Platform to Share Work: Finalists have the chance to present their work and discuss it at the festival alongside peers from over 30 countries.
True Story Award Requirements
- True Story Award 2026 submissions can come from anywhere in the world.
- Reports must be published between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025.
- Entries accepted in 10 major world languages or in translation
- Open to individual journalists or editorial submissions.
- Applicants must choose one evaluation category: Research,Storytelling, or impact.
- Work must reflect high standards of journalism and public value.
- Eligible platforms: daily/weekly newspapers,magazines or online outlets.
- Text length: 3,000-17,000 words
- Not eligible: republished texts,books,manuscripts,visual/audiovisual works,essays biographies,historical non-fiction
- Authors editors can make submissions.
- Authors must confirm that their work is based on researched events and meets journalistic standards
Authors have the following two options for submitting articles from any languages other than the 10 main languages:
- Translate their text into English and submit it under the category «World I», «World II» or «Europe».
- Submit their text in the original language under the category «World I», «World II» or «Europe».
In this case, we also require a summary in English (at least 400 words). The original texts will be reviewed by native-speaking readers from our network. Selected texts will then be translated into English for evaluation by the jury.
If their work is nominated, the authors grant the organisers of the True Story Award the right to publish their work in English translation on the www.truestoryaward.org website and in German translation in the festival publication at the time of the annual award ceremony.
Application Date and Process
Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
31 October, 2025
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