The winners of 500 Words 2025/26

The moment you have been waiting for is here – we are proud to finally reveal the winners of the 500 Words 2025/26 competition!

After a long and competitive process, the six winners were revealed in a special 500 Words programme with The One Show, presented by Alex Jones and Roman Kemp.

Children from across the UK were invited by Her Majesty The Queen to a star-studded event at Windsor Castle. The winners were revealed by special celebrity readers, Jodie Whittaker, Joanna Page, Sara Cox, Bradley and Barney Walsh, Big Zuu and Paterson Joseph.

Speaking at the Grand Final, Her Majesty The Queen said: “Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who has supported the competition this year and to congratulate the brilliant finalists! I hope that you have enjoyed taking part in 500 Words and that doing so has helped you to discover a secret…that reading and writing are the best fun ever!”

The winners were chosen by our celebrity panel of judges; Sir Lenny Henry, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Francesca Simon, Charlie Higson, Rose Ayling-Ellis and Malorie Blackman.

There were lots of prizes won, each winner took home bundles of books, with the gold winners’ schools also receiving 500 books for their school library.

All winning stories have been interpreted by children’s illustrators and published in a special BBC 500 Words winners’ book produced by Oxford University Press. Illustrators included Korky Paul, Harriet Muncaster, Paula Bowles, Rochelle Falconer, Leigh Hodgkinson and Ken Wilson-Max.

Watch the winning stories be read loud for the very first time below and be prepared to laugh, cry and be moved by excellent children’s writing.

Read the amazing stories from all the finalists who made it to the grand final of the 2025/26 competition

Winner: The Comet and the Earth, by Harry Hart., read by Gladiators presenters Bradley and Barney Walsh. Barney said: "I thought it was a beautiful story, I thought it was a story about change and growth."

Winner: Love Doesn't Have to be Loud, by Muhammed-Da’oud Khan, read by Gavin and Stacey actor Joanna Page. Speaking at the event, Joanna said: "[It's] so sensitive and so beautiful, and I thought it was amazing the way that Muhammed captured the character of Joyce so quickly; we knew how she felt and how determined she was."

Winner: Life on Mars by Zuren Zhang, read by Radio 2 Presenter Sara Cox. Sara 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.”

Winner: The Jollof Code, by Annalise Ikeasomba., read by rapper and DJ Big Zuu. When asked if he has any recipes for Jollof Rice, Big Zuu said: "My Mum's Jollof rice is the best Jollof rice. And no, I've not been force to say that!"

Winner: The Truth of Pitlochry, by Ariadne Elena Livas., read by Wonka actor Paterson Joseph. Speaking on the story, Patterson said: "It's an extraordinary effort from somebody so young, it's really just an amazing story."

Winner: Strings of Midnight by Maya Ukwubiwe, read by Doctor Who actor Jodie Whittaker. Speaking at the event, Jodie said: “It was incredible. 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!”