Best Writing Contests in 2026

Genres: Non-fiction

The Mark Lynton History Prize, in the amount of $10,000, is awarded to a book­-length work of history on any topic that best combines intellectual distinction with felicity of expression. Books must have been published in the United States between January 1, 2023, and December 31, 2023.

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Short Story Competition is organized by Exeter Writers, aiming to encourage and showcase emerging writing talent. This competition invites entries from writers of various backgrounds.

Genres: Poetry

This contest is for emerging poets submitting their first or second book of poetry, which should contribute innovatively to American poetry. The awards include a $1,000 prize, publication, and twenty copies of the book. Manuscripts must be 48-120 pages long.

Genres: Fantasy, Mystery, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

The Colorado Gold Rush Literary Awards Contest is aimed at unpublished writers of novel-length fiction, offering feedback and exposure to literary agents and editors. It encourages diverse voices and celebrates various genres.

Genres: Flash Fiction and Fiction

The Booby Prize is a quarterly flash fiction contest supporting the conservation of the Blue-Footed Boobys.

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

Established in 2023, this contest is a platform for writers and poets to get their work published. Categories include various forms of poetry and fiction, excluding erotic work. Winners receive feedback and cash prizes, while all approved submissions will be included in the anthology.

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The Young Sports Journalist competition invites entries from students aged 14-21. Participants must submit a piece between 700-800 words responding to a prompt. Winners receive recognition in Pitch Magazine and a chance for work experience.

Genres: Poetry

The Ambroggio Prize is a $1,000 publication prize for a poetry manuscript originally in Spanish with an English translation. It honors American poets whose first language is Spanish and is awarded annually since 2017.

Genres: Children's, Fiction, and Young Adult

The Bath Children's Novel Award is an international writing competition for children's novels, young adult (YA) fiction, chapter books, and picture book texts. It is open to unagented writers who are unpublished or self-published without an advance. The contest aims to support emerging authors.

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Reeds in the Wind Literary Prize aims to promote the literary legacy of Grazia Deledda. It is open to international participants and accepts submissions in Italian, Sardinian, and English. Stories must explore themes from Deledda's works and have a word count of 5,000 to 7,000 characters. The awards will be presented during a ceremony scheduled for Saturday, 13 September 2025, in the town of Galtellì.

Genres: Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, Suspense, and Thriller

The Claymore Award assists new and rebranding English-language fiction authors with potential publishing opportunities, including agent representation, book deals, and media adaptations. The contest emphasizes the importance of getting the first 50 pages of an unpublished work noticed by industry professionals.

Genres: Fiction

The Raven Short Story Contest invites submissions of previously unpublished short fiction between 250 to 2500 words. The contest is judged by Kelly Robson, a renowned author.

Genres: Essay, Fiction, and Non-fiction

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize is awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of 'Fear.' All genres are accepted, and entries must be in English. The competition aims to discover and support emerging writing talent globally.

Genres: Fiction

The competition invites submissions of the first five pages of a novel and a 250-word synopsis. The work must be unpublished and original. There is no specific theme or style required.

Genres: Poetry

The Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award is one of the most prestigious poetry awards, providing significant financial support to poets. It offers a $100,000 prize for a single poetry collection published within the eligibility year, aimed at supporting mid-career poets. The award encourages poets to continue developing their craft.

Genres: Poetry

A free monthly poetry contest hosted by the Nudante team, where poets upload and share their work with the community. The winner receives a $100 first prize.

Genres: Children's and Essay

An international competition open to K–12 students, focusing on personal connections to world history. Essays must address specific topics and demonstrate critical thinking and effective communication.

Genres: Poetry

The Oxford Poetry Prize is an annual competition for a single poem in English. The guest judge this year is Rebecca Tamás.

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Script Writing

The Porter Fleming Literary Competition honors the memory of Porter Fleming. It awards $7,000 in cash across four categories: Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, and One-Act Play. Winners are invited to a literary program and awards ceremony in Spring 2026.

Genres: Poetry

The Lascaux Prize in Poetry invites submissions of previously published or unpublished poems. The winner receives $1,000, a bronze medallion, and publication in The Lascaux Review. There is no limit to the number of entries, and up to five poems can be submitted per entry.

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

The Moth Short Story Prize is an international contest open to anyone over 16, requiring original, unpublished stories up to 3,000 words. The winners are chosen by a single judge who reads entries anonymously. The contest is held annually, and the winning story is published in the Irish Times.

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Short Story

The contest encourages participants to submit one fictional story (max 350 words) for a chance to win a prize. The contest requires a minimum of 10 shortlisted submissions to award a prize, which is a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Genres: Christian

The BRMCWC Foundation Awards are open to unpublished works from attendees of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference. Participants must be registered for the entire conference to compete.

Genres: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The inaugural Louise Glück Prize for Best Poem or Prose, run by Poetries in English Magazine. Open to poetry and prose; the winner receives a $1,000 honorarium and publication in the magazine.

Genres: Poetry

Each entrant for their €24 entry fee will receive a complementary postage-free, one-year subscription to Southword. Poems will be read and judged anonymously. Poems must be previously unpublished. The winning poet will have their three poems published in Southword.

Genres: Fiction

Good Housekeeping magazine has partnered with Rachel Mills Literary Agency to launch a competition for aspiring novelists that offers a cash prize.

Genres: Non-fiction and Poetry

The Geminga Contest 2026 invites submissions for Tiny Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry, Graphic Novels, and Art. The contest emphasizes the power of brevity, allowing a maximum of 100 words for fiction and nonfiction. Micropoetry is limited to 140 characters. Selected works will be published in Sunspot Lit's digital and print editions.

Genres: Essay

The contest invites high school students to write an essay reflecting on the role of the U.S. Foreign Service during the Vietnam War and its impacts on contemporary U.S. diplomacy.

Genres: Memoir, Non-fiction, and Essay

This contest honors exceptional memoir writing, created in memory of Amy MacRae and supports ovarian cancer research. The award was established to celebrate her life and legacy.

Genres: Fiction and Young Adult

The Libraro Prize is a writing competition aimed at discovering new authors. It offers a £50,000 package and a book deal with Hachette UK for the winning entry. The contest also encourages reader engagement, offering two reader prizes worth £10,000 each for engagement and referrals.

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

The Irene Adler Prize is a scholarship for women writers, offering $1,000 to support their education in journalism, creative writing, or literature. The prize aims to celebrate and elevate women's voices in writing.

Genres: Non-fiction and Short Story

The Philip Hoare Prize is an international competition for the best non-fiction writing, established in 2025, seeking vivid and original narratives that blend personal, historical, and natural themes.

Genres: Flash Fiction

An international flash fiction competition for stories up to 200 words with a twist. The competition is open to anyone 18+ and accepts any theme, with a focus on quality writing.

Genres: Fiction, Humor, Non-fiction, and Short Story

Teazr's Spill the Tea contest asks for the true stories people usually keep to themselves: the moment at work you almost lost it, the date you were desperate to escape, the cringe memory that still surfaces at 3am. Entries are posted to Teazr and ranked by reader likes, with the thirty most-liked stories sharing $1,400 in prizes. Entry is free, unlimited, and can be anonymous.

Genres: Fiction, Horror, and Short Story

Edge & Busby Press seeks literary psychological horror for its inaugural anthology contest — stories where the dread comes from people. Sixteen stories will be selected. Guest judge: Carl Ellsworth (Red Eye, Disturbia).