True Story Award Research

This award recognises the high quality of journalistic research. The evaluation takes into account the scope of the research, time invested, data analysis, the difficulty of obtaining information, and any risks involved.

True Story Award Storytelling

This award recognises the outstanding writing quality of a feature. The evaluation takes into account structure and composition, the combination of facts and prose, narrative elegance, and literary quality in non-fiction.

True Story Award Impact

This award recognises the societal impact of a feature. The evaluation takes into account news value, reader response, and potential further consequences in politics, the economy, and society.

The international jury, comprising 45 members from 24 countries, first selects the 36 best submissions. Their authors are invited to the 2026 True Story Award ceremony and the True Story Festival in Bern, Switzerland, where they present their work.

The festival creates opportunities for exchange between the audience and journalists who have travelled from around the world. In a second step, the main jury selects the three winners in the categories “Research”, “Storytelling”, and “Impact”. Each winner receives a prize of USD 20,000.

The award ceremony takes place on the Friday of the True Story Festival in Bern and marks the opening of the festival.

Reports from around the world published between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025 in daily or weekly newspapers, magazines, or online are eligible for submission to the 2026 True Story Award. Entries can be submitted online in the following nine widely spoken languages:

• ال†عر†بیة-
• 中文
• English
• Français
• Deutsch
• فارسی
• Português
• Pусский
• Español

Entries in languages other than those listed above may be submitted in English translation via one of the following regional categories:

• Europe
• World I (Africa and the Middle East)
• World II (South Asia and Southeast Asia)

At the time of submission, authors choose one of the three award categories: “Research”, “Storytelling”, or “Impact”.

• The submission deadline is Tuesday, 21 October 2025, at 12:00 (UTC). Entries submitted after this deadline cannot be considered.
• Submitted texts must be between 15,000 and 85,000 characters in length, including spaces.
• Previously published works, book publications, and unpublished manuscripts are not eligible.
• Visual and audiovisual works are excluded.
• Purely factual texts and academic works are not eligible.
• Each author may submit only one text.
• Entries may be submitted by the authors themselves or by their editorial teams.
• By submitting their work, authors confirm that their text is based on genuinely researched events and meets journalistic standards.
• In the event of a nomination, authors grant the True Story Foundation the right to publish their texts on its website in the original language and in English.
• In the event of a nomination, authors grant the True Story Foundation the right to publish their texts in German in partner media outlets of the Award and the Festival.