2026 • Volume 42

The 42nd Annual L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers & Illustrators of the Future Gala, held on April 16, 2026, in Hollywood, California, honored the emerging voices shaping the future of speculative fiction and art. This year’s celebration marked yet another milestone: over 1,000 writers and artists have now been published in the anthologies.  To see the full list of this year’s winners, click here.

Cover Art Meets Storytelling

The stunning cover artwork for Volume 42—The Fire Tribe by renowned artist and Illustrators of the Future Judge Ciruelo Cabral—served as the inspiration for its companion story, “Skinny-Shins,” written by Writers of the Future Judge Orson Scott Card. This collaboration between judges once again highlights the fusion of visual and literary imagination that defines the anthology.

A Multicast Audiobook Experience

The audiobook edition of Volume 42 was produced by two-time Grammy Award-Winning audiobook producer Stephan Rudnicki, along with a cast of acclaimed voice actors Orson Scott Card, Gabrielle De Cuir, Janina Edwards, Susan Hanfield, Kirby Heyborne, John Lee, Jim Meskimen, and Scott Peterson. Available on major platforms including Audible, Spotify, Apple Books, and more.

Global Broadcast Reach

The 2026 awards show was broadcast live on the United Public Radio Network, reaching:

• Over 470,000 viewers via Roku, Amazon Firestick, Apple, Samsung, and Google
• More than 9.5 million listeners through the live radio stream
• In total, the show has now been seen or heard by an audience of over 10 million across 149 countries

Get Volume 42 Now

Featuring 15 illustrated short stories by the year’s contest winners—hand-selected by some of the biggest names in the field—Writers of the Future Volume 42 is now available in print, ebook, and audiobook editions. Order your copy and discover the future of science fiction and fantasy.