The 2026 Arlan Andrews, Sr. Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Story Challenge
Accepting entries now through June 1st, 2026!
Arlan Andrews, Sr., one of the members of the Inaugural Inductee Class of the Imagination Hall of Fame in 2025, will be returning to Imaginarium in 2026. Arlan, a retired engineer and founder of several high tech firms, is also the author of over a hundred science fiction short stories and essays, seven novels, several story collections, and hundreds of speculative articles on UFOs, the paranormal, ancient technologies, and other arcane subjects (and he has appeared on popular television shows such as Ancient Aliens).
At Imaginarium, 2025, Arlan presented a how-to discussion about writing short fiction. This year, he is sponsoring a short fiction contest for Imaginarium 2026 attendees. Attendees of the convention may submit one short science fiction or fantasy story per person in standard format, with a 2000 word limit, in MS Word. There is no cost for entering the contest, but all participants must be registered attendees of Imaginarium 2026.
The submissions are open from April 1, 2026, until June 1, 2026. (Convention attendees only, so get registered today at this link!) The entry form and email address for submitting manuscripts are below on this page page.
Some chosen stories will be read aloud by their authors during a special panel session at Imaginarium. Arlan will select three short stories that he judges to be the best.
Submission window: April 1, 2026 to June 1, 2026
Awards and Cash Prizes:
Winner: Trophy recognition at the Imaginarium 2026 Awards Banquet and $200 Cash Prize
First Runner-up: Trophy recognition at the Imaginarium 2026 Awards Banquet and $100 Cash Prize
Second Runner-up: Trophy recognition at the Imaginarium 2026 Awards Banquet and $50 Cash Prize
All results will be final. Submission email address is below with instructions
For background information, to see a nearly complete listing of Arlan’s own science fiction works, go to The Internet Speculative Fiction Database at:
To submit a story for the 2026 Arlan Andrews, Sr. Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Story Challenge
- Email your manuscript to entertheimaginarium@gmail.com and put in the subject line: Entry for the 2026 Arlan Andrews, Sr. Science Fiction & Fantasy Short Story Challenge
- Fill out the form below. Hit the submit button on the bottom when finished.
- There is no additonal cost for submitting an entry, but you must be a registered attendee of Imagianrium 2026, with an Event Ticket, or be a Spotlighted Guest, Panelist, Vendor, or Volunteer.