GREAT BAY--Minister of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport Melissa Gumbs is inviting young writers between the ages of 12 and 14 to participate in the 2026 Dame Ruby Bute National Short Story Contest which opnes on Saturday, August 1.
Submissions will be accepted from August 1 through August 21, 2026. Winners will be announced on September 8 in recognition of International Literacy Day.
This year’s theme, “Beats, Bites and Bacchanal,” challenges participants to imagine Carnival in the year 2050 and explore how artificial intelligence and emerging technologies could influence some of St. Maarten’s most celebrated cultural traditions.
Through their stories, students are encouraged to examine how cultural heritage and innovation can coexist while presenting their own creative vision of the future.
Entries must be between 750 and 3,000 words. Students who are currently 12 to 14 years old may participate, while children who will turn 12 during September 2026 will also be eligible to enter.
Minister Gumbs encouraged parents and guardians to ensure that eligible children begin preparing their stories ahead of the submission period.
The age provision was added following the experience of a previous winner who earned the top prize shortly before reaching the required age. The updated rules are intended to ensure that young writers approaching their 12th birthday are not excluded from the opportunity.
Minister Gumbs also recognized the private-sector partners supporting the contest, namely RBC Bank, Boolchand’s, Antek IT Solutions & Software and Klass Electronics. Their continued support helps provide prizes for the first, second and third-place winners and strengthens an initiative that encourages literacy, creativity and cultural expression among St. Maarten’s young writers.
The Dame Ruby Bute National Short Story Contest promotes literacy, creative writing and cultural awareness while giving young people an opportunity to express their ideas through storytelling.
Eligible students are encouraged to begin developing their stories and complete their submissions before the August 21 deadline.
