The Second Future History International Science Fiction Award Will Take Place in 2026
MOSCOW – What will life be like a hundred years from now? Who will create the visions that inspire the scientists of the twenty-second century? These are the questions at the heart of the Future History International Science Fiction Award, whose organizers have announced the launch of the competition's second season in 2026.
Submissions will open on May 20. The Award's prize fund exceeds 6 million rubles and will be distributed across four categories: Best Story, Best Story for Children and Young Adults, Best Foreign-Language Story, and Best Screenplay Proposal. The rules for the second season remain unchanged. Only previously unpublished works will be accepted. The competition brief and submission guidelines will be published on the Award's official website.
In an era of global challenges, from climate change to the ethical dilemmas posed by artificial intelligence, science fiction is becoming much more than a form of entertainment. It is a tool for public dialogue, a testing ground for ideas, and a bridge between science, literature, and society. The Award seeks to inspire researchers, engineers, and inventors by demonstrating that technology can – and should – serve humanity.
"We need new visions of the future. Unlike the bleak dystopias and techno-thrillers that dominate screens and bookshelves today, the Award seeks positive, constructive scenarios for tomorrow – ones that inspire young engineers to create and writers to dream on a grand scale," says Andrey Timonov, Director of Communications at the State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM.
More than 2,500 authors from Russia, as well as countries across Africa, Asia, South America, and Europe, participated in the Award's first season. The final ceremony took place on November 8, 2025, in Moscow at the Atom Museum at VDNH, one of the world's leading technology museums. Stories by the finalists were published on the LitRes platform.
The Future History International Science Fiction Award was established by the ATOM Foundation to Promote the Development of Research, Education, and Communication Initiatives under the auspices of the State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM. Its primary mission is to promote science fiction and contemporary achievements in science and technology, while strengthening international ties and fostering the exchange of experience within the global science fiction community.
The organizers aim not only to support science fiction writers but also to create opportunities for collaboration between authors, scientists, and young people, helping to build a community capable of generating visions of the future for the entire planet.
Further details regarding the timeline of the second season, the composition of the Jury, the categories, and the prize fund will be announced in due course. Follow updates on the Award's official website and social media channels.