True Story Award 2027 opens entries for journalists worldwide

International journalism award invites published reports competing across Research, Storytelling and Impact categories

The True Story Award 2027 has opened submissions for journalists worldwide, recognising outstanding written journalism for the depth of its research, quality of storytelling and societal relevance.

The international award is presented in three categories — Research, Storytelling and Impact — with each category focusing on a different aspect of journalistic excellence.

The Research category recognises reports distinguished by the scope and depth of its journalistic investigation, including the time invested, data analysis, difficulty of getting information and risks involved.

The Storytelling category focuses on the quality of writing and narrative construction. Entries are assessed for structure, composition, the combination of facts and prose, narrative elegance and literary quality in nonfiction.

The Impact category recognises journalism that generates societal significance. Judges consider factors including news value, reader response and potential consequences for politics, the economy and society.

36 finalists to be invited to Bern

An international jury comprising 45 members from 24 countries will first select 36 outstanding submissions. The selected journalists will be invited to the 2027 True Story Award ceremony and True Story Festival in Bern, Switzerland.

The nominated journalists will have an opportunity to present their work and interact with audiences and fellow journalists from around the world.

The main jury will subsequently select one winner in each of the three categories. Each category winner will receive USD 20,000.

The awards ceremony, held on the Friday of the True Story Festival in Bern, will also mark the opening of the festival.

Who can apply?

Reports published between October 1, 2025 and September 30, 2026 in daily or weekly newspapers, magazines or online publications are eligible for the 2027 award.

Entries can be submitted in nine widely spoken languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Persian, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

Works published in other languages may be submitted with an English translation through regional categories covering Europe, Africa and the Middle East, and South Asia and Southeast Asia.

Each author may submit only one work. Entries can be submitted either by individual journalists or their editorial teams.

Submission deadline

The deadline for entries is October 31, 2026, at 12:00 UTC. Late submissions will not be considered.

Submitted works must be between 15,000 and 85,000 characters, including spaces. Previously published works are eligible, while books and unpublished manuscripts are excluded. Visual and audiovisual works, purely factual texts and academic works are also not eligible.

By submitting an entry, journalists confirm that their work is based on genuinely researched events and follows fundamental journalistic standards.

In case of nomination, authors grant the True Story Foundation rights to publish their work on its website in the original language and English, as well as in German through partner media outlets.

The organisers of the award describe each submission as beginning with a question and ending as a story that remains with its audience. Previous shortlists, nominees and winners are available through the True Story Award’s archive.