Find the next prize worth entering.

A fast, open flash contest from Streetlight Magazine. Every entry is considered for general publication as well as the prize list.

Aimed at unrepresented writers, with a cash first prize and an introduction to a literary agent — a practical next step as well as a win.

Named for the Caribbean-Canadian novelist and poet, this Puritan magazine prize splits awards across poetry and fiction.

A book prize for a full-length poetry collection, with cash, copies, and a publication contract from Exophidia Press.

Mslexia’s novel prize for unpublished book-length fiction by women and non-binary writers — adult or young adult.

A tight 300-word flash prize running alongside Mslexia’s 2026 women’s fiction competitions.

One of the best-known short-story prizes for women and non-binary writers. 2026 judge: Ingrid Persaud. The winning story appears in Mslexia.

The Bridport memoir strand, judged in 2026 by Sarah Moss. First prize includes mentoring and a conversation with a John Murray editor.

The Irish school’s annual international short-story competition. Deadline 30 September 2026, 5pm GMT.

An international prize with poetry and short-story strands and a substantial first prize, run from Bedford in the UK.

An annual international short-story prize from The Writers’ College. Early entry was free; the final window is paid until 30 September.

Free monthly contests for teenagers, with guest judges and prompts that rotate through fiction, poetry, memoir, journalism and more.

A long-running quarterly contest for new speculative-fiction writers. No entry fee. Deadlines fall on 31 March, 30 June, 30 September and 31 December.

A timed international writing battle with a large prize pool. Stories are written to a prompt and judged by peers and editors.

The Poetry Society’s flagship open competition — one of the most respected poetry prizes in the world, judged anonymously.

The oldest annual literary award in the United States. The window for the 2026 competition is 1 October to 15 November.

A major Irish international prize. Ten stories are published in the annual Fish Anthology; first prize includes a festival workshop.

An annual themed prize in the spirit of H.G. Wells — speculative, social and scientific imaginings welcome.

A tightly constrained international micro contest — one hundred words, any genre, with a four-figure top prize.

A prize from Kinsman Quarterly celebrating work by writers of the African diaspora across several genres.

A rolling weekly contest: pick a prompt, write a story, and compete for a $250 prize. Low fee, fast turnaround.

An international award celebrating short fiction by the next generation of writers. 2027 deadline: 28 January.

A well-regarded UK prize that publishes an anthology of shortlisted stories. Open to any genre, published or unpublished.

Often called the African Booker. Stories must usually have been published already; publishers and authors may submit.

The leading free prize for unpublished short fiction from the Commonwealth, with regional winners from Africa, Asia, Canada & Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific.

Fish’s companion prize to the Short Story Prize, for short memoir. Usually closes at the end of January.

The UK’s most prominent short-story prize, broadcast on Radio 4. Entrants need a prior UK publication record.

A major U.S. first-book (and beyond) poetry competition. The 2027 window runs 7 January to 21 March 2027.

Soho Theatre’s prize for a new, unproduced play — the winner is staged. A genuine path onto a London stage.

A friendly, well-run international award for stories up to 2,200 words, any genre, judged anonymously.

One of the most established open screenwriting contests, with genre categories from drama and comedy to sci-fi and animation.

A leading international prize for unpublished novelists, judged by agents and authors, with a substantial cash prize.

One of the world’s best-known open writing prizes. The 2026 cycle has closed; the 2027 competition opens on 15 November 2026.

Australia’s best-known prize for a first book by a writer under 35, leading to publication with Allen & Unwin.

A rare open door into children’s publishing: the winning manuscript is published by Chicken House and covered in The Times.

The world’s most prestigious poetry prize for 11–17-year-olds. Free, international, and a genuine launchpad for young poets.

A prize from the magazine of international contemporary writing, with strands in poetry, fiction and life writing.

A £5,000 international prize split across poetry and short fiction, with publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual.

A distinguished first-collection prize. No entry fee. The winning manuscript is published by the University of Iowa Press.

The UK’s principal award for poets under thirty — a CV-maker, free to enter, administered by the Society of Authors.

One of the world’s largest cash prizes for a single poem. Global, anonymous judging, even-numbered years only.