Confirm dates
The Times / Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition
Chicken House Books
Typical close 1 Jun 2027
Deadline
1 June 2027
Entry fee
£25 (2026 terms)
Region
Worldwide
Age
Adult writers of children’s fiction
Length
Full unpublished children’s or YA novel
Children’sYoung adultNovel18+
The prize
Publishing contract with Chicken House and a cash advance (see current rules)
Who can enter
Unpublished novels for children or teenagers. 2026 entry fee was £25 (hardship reduction available).
About
A rare open door into children’s publishing: the winning manuscript is published by Chicken House and covered in The Times.
2026 closed 1 June. Next cycle expected June 2027.
Dates follow the typical annual cycle. Confirm current deadlines on the official site before preparing an entry.