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Winners of 500 Words competition revealed

Picture shows: Back: Gladiators Steel and Diamond, Rob Eckland, Paterson Joseph, Marisha Wallace, Sara Cox, Big Zuu, Bradley Walsh, Joanna Page, Barney Walsh, Jodie Whittaker, Her Majesty The Queen, Roman Kemp, Charlie Higson, Alex Jones, Malorie Blackman, Lenny Henry, Francesca Simon, Rose Ayling-Ellis. Front: BBC 500 Words 2026 winners Harry Hart, Zuren Zhang, Ariadne Elena Livas, Annalise Ikeasomba, Maya Ukwubiwe, Muhammed-Da’oud Khan.

After more than 46,500 entries, the six winners of the BBC's 500 Words competition have been revealed.

The writing competition invites children between the ages of five and 11 across the UK to submit the stories they would love to read in 500 words or fewer.

The judges had to whittle the entries down to just six winners from two age group categories, ages 5-7 and 8-11 with each consisting of gold, silver and bronze awards.

They have been unveiled on BBC's The One Show after a 500 Words Grand Final at Windsor Castle.

Check out the winners below!

More on books and reading

Gold winner age 8-11

Maya stands next to Alex Jones on stage. She is smiling in a white dress. On the left of the image is the illustration of a ringmaster with a carousel between his hands made of lots of coloured strings. BBC/Korky Paul

Maya's story, String of Midnight, was read by Jodie Whittaker and illustrated by Korky Paul

Maya was the Gold Winner in the 8-11 age category.

Her story, Strings of Midnight, was read by Doctor Who actor Jodie Whittaker.

The story features mystery, suspense and a ringmaster.

Jodie said the story was "incredible", adding:

"I think it's one of those amazing stories that not only have you read it, I think everyone in this room feels like they've seen it. If it gets made into a film, I'd like to be in it!"

Maya has won herself the height of judge Sir Lenny Henry (1.9m) in books, plus 500 books for her school.

Gold winner age 5-7

On the left is an illustration of two bunnies - one grey and one orange/brown - in a spaceship. Out the window is Mars, an orange planet. On the right is a picture of Zuren in a blue suit and white shirt speaking to Alex Jones who is crouched down with a microphone. BBC/Paula Bowles

Zuren took the Gold prize in the 5-7 age category.

His story, Life on Mars, was read by Sara Cox.

In Zuren's story, two rabbits find themselves on a rocket to Mars and they think it's going to be made of carrots.

Sara Cox said: "I just love that Stew and Pidd are so brave because they weren't sure what they were getting themselves into, but they just went for it.

"I think we can all learn from that, so well done Zuren."

Like Maya, Zuren won 1.9 metres worth of books and 500 books for his school.

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  1. A woman with red hair sits in the forest with a young girl
    Harriet Muncaster

    The Truth of Pitlochry was illustrated by Harriet Muncaster

Silver and Bronze winners

  • The Silver winner for the 8-11 age group is Ariadne with her story The Truth of Pitlochry which was read by Paterson Joseph.

  • The Silver winner for the 5-7 age group is Muhammed-Da'oud with his story Love Doesn't Have to be Loud, read by Joanna Page.

The Silver winners have won the height of Her Majesty The Queen in books. That's 1.76 metres worth of books.

  • The Bronze winner in the 8-11 age group is Annalise with her story The Jollof Code which was read by Big Zuu.

  • The Bronze winner in the 5-7 age group is Harry Hart with his story The Comet and the Earth which was read by Bradley and Barney Walsh.