Interested writers will be able to submit their scripts until 4 June, and will be able to participate in two different categories: one aimed at native English speakers and another aimed at participants who have English as a second language. The terms and conditions are available on the initiative’s official website.

The winners in each category will receive a cash prize of £2,500 (around €2,980) and will be invited to attend the UK awards ceremony in 2026, as well as attend the recording of their audio drama, which will be broadcast as a world premiere on the BBC World Service.

A Georgi Markov Special Distinction will also be awarded to the runner-up, named after BBC World Service journalist and writer Georgi Markov (1929–1978).

The script to be submitted must be written mainly or entirely in English, be between 35 and 60 pages in A4 format, and correspond to an estimated duration of 40 to 50 minutes. The text must be original — adaptations or creations using artificial intelligence are not accepted.

Each drama can include up to six main characters and a maximum of three additional characters with few speaking roles. The submission must be accompanied by a synopsis of up to 400 words, which summarises the complete story.

In the previous edition, held in 2023, the competition received 677 entries from 94 countries, confirming its international reach and the diversity of voices it seeks to make known.

The British Council and BBC World Services invite “Portuguese authors to submit their scripts, until 4 June, as part of the 29th International Audio Drama Competition”.