Entries are open for the True Story Award 2027 - an international journalism prize recognising written reportage for depth of research, writing quality, and societal relevance. Winners are announced at the opening of the True Story Festival in Bern, Switzerland.
Three category winners (Research, Storytelling, Impact) each receive USD 20,000. Thirty-six shortlisted authors are invited to the 2027 festival. Deadline: 31 October 2026, 12:00 UTC.
This Opportunity Station guide is original copy based on the official True Story Festival award page. It is not a reprint of any third-party blog.
Quick Facts - True Story Award 2027
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Award | True Story Award (True Story Festival / Foundation) |
| Categories | Research · Storytelling · Impact |
| Prize | USD 20,000 per category winner (3 winners) |
| Shortlist | 36 nominees invited to Bern festival |
| Eligible work | Published 1 Oct 2025 - 30 Sep 2026 (print/online features) |
| Length | 15,000 - 85,000 characters (incl. spaces) |
| Deadline | 31 October 2026, 12:00 UTC |
| Festival | ~3 - 7 June 2027, Bern, Switzerland |
| Apply | apply.truestoryfestival.org |
Categories
- Research: scope of investigation, time invested, data analysis, difficulty/risk of obtaining information
- Storytelling: structure, facts + prose, narrative elegance, literary quality in non-fiction
- Impact: news value, reader response, consequences in politics, economy, or society
Benefits
- USD 20,000 for each of three category winners
- 36 shortlisted journalists invited to the True Story Award ceremony and True Story Festival in Bern
- International visibility and exchange with journalists and audiences worldwide
- Assessment by an international jury (45 members from 24 countries) plus a main jury
Eligibility & Entry Rules
- Open to journalists worldwide
- Feature/reportage published between 1 October 2025 and 30 September 2026 in daily/weekly newspapers, magazines, or online
- Text length: 15,000 - 85,000 characters including spaces
- One text per author; authors or editorial teams may submit
- Not eligible: book publications, unpublished manuscripts, visual/audiovisual works, purely factual texts, academic works
- Must be genuinely researched journalism meeting professional standards
- Nine languages accepted directly; other languages via English translation in regional categories (Europe / World I Africa & Middle East / World II South & Southeast Asia)
How to Apply
- Review criteria on the official True Story Award page.
- Submit online at apply.truestoryfestival.org (choose original language or regional translation path).
- Submit by 31 October 2026, 12:00 UTC - late entries are not considered.
Nominees grant True Story Foundation rights to publish the text on its site (original + English) and in German in partner media.
Official Links
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FAQs - True Story Award 2027
When is the deadline?
31 October 2026 at 12:00 UTC.
What is the prize?
Three winners (Research, Storytelling, Impact) each receive USD 20,000; 36 nominees are invited to Bern.
Who can enter?
Journalists worldwide with a qualifying published feature (15k - 85k characters) from 1 Oct 2025 - 30 Sep 2026.
