“Combines both emerging and established voices for a fascinating glimpse at the most exciting short fiction coming out of this country.”—Open Book

Selected and introduced by Zsuzsi Gartner, the 2026 edition of Best Canadian Stories provides a distinctive sample of the best Canadian short fiction published over the last year. These sixteen stories draw together an expressive range of characters and narratives, from contributors both familiar and new, and appeal to both longstanding readers and those looking for an entry point into Canadian literature.

Featuring:

Shashi Bhat • Julie Bouchard, translated by Arielle Aaronson • Randy Boyagoda • Grant Buday • Petra Chambers • Sophie Crocker • Bill Gaston • Evan J • Aaron Kreuter • Alex Leslie • Erin MacNair • D.F. McCourt • Rishi Midha • Kaitlin Ruether • Margaret Sweatman