Discover 40+ top writing competitions in 2026. Entry details, deadlines & prizes included. Submit fiction, non fiction, translation, poetry and more, to win awards & get published.
Whether you are a beginner or a published author, writing competitions offer cash prizes, global recognition, and publishing opportunities. This updated 2026 guide lists 40+ international writing competitions, including poetry, short story, essay, translation and creative writing contests. You’ll find deadlines, entry fees, prizes, and step-by-step instruction guide on how to enter writing competitions .
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Requirements Before Applying for Writing Competitions:
It might become a challenge for beginners to apply for writing competitions,without knowing the proper steps and prerequisites. So, below are the necessary details and requirements that a writer should prepare before submitting their work to any literary platform.
- Cover letter (preferably in 3rd person)
- Each writeup in a separate document
- Submission platform account (includes Submittable, Duotrope )
- Short Bio
To read in more indetail about various platforms and ways to publish writing and its monetization value, check out:
The ultimate List of WRITING COMPETITIONS 2026: Monthly updated
1. Red Hen Press: Benjamin Saltman Poetry Award
Deadline: Sun, Nov 1, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $25.00
Guidelines:
- 48 page minimum, 96 page maximum.
- Award is for a previously unpublished work only
- final judge will be TBA.
Prize: $3,000 and publication
2. Willow Springs Surrealist Poetry Prize 2026
Deadline: Fri, Oct 2, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $15.00
Guidelines:
- Submit a packet of up to 3 poems
- Multiple submissions are welcome
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted
- Accept only previously unpublished work for publication.
Prize: $1000 and publication
3. Northwest Review
Deadline: Tue, Sep 1, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $15.00
Guidelines: judged by Mat Johnson and Michelle Peñaloza
- Submit up to 3 poems (or 6 pages total)
- Previously published manuscripts will not be considered.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted
Prize:
- Book publication
- $1,000 honorarium
4. The Pinch Literary Award
Non fiction
Deadline: Mon, Aug 3, 2026 10:30 AM
Entry fee: $4.95
Guidelines:
- Will consider up to THREE flash nonfiction pieces
- Do not publish translations.
- Simultaneous submissions accepted
- Previously published work is ineligible.
Prize: publication
5. Jack Wild Publishing
2026 Summer Chapbook Contest
Deadline: July 30th, 2026
Fee: $25
Guidelines: Guest Judge: Beth Nguyen
- Theme: No specific theme required.
- Submit a complete chapbook manuscript consisting of up to 30 poems.
- All poems in your manuscript should be previously unpublished.
Prize: professionally published chapbook
6. EVENT Magazine
Non Fiction
Deadline: Fri, Oct 16, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $34.95
Guidelines:
- 5,000 word limit on entries.
- No simultaneous submissions.
- Multiple entries are allowed
- Entries must not have been previously published
Prize:
- $3,000 in total prizes, plus publication in EVENT
- First Place $1,500; Second Place $1,000; Third Place $500.
7. The Florida Review
Fiction, Non- Fiction, Poetry
Deadline: open year round
Entry fee: $3.00
Guidelines:
- Prose: limit each submission to 9,000 words.
- Poetry: Up to 5 poems per entry.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
- Multiple individual entries by a writer, in any category or combination of categories, will be considered.
Prize: publication
8. The Coniston Prize
Poetry Prize
Deadline: Sun, Aug 2, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry fee: $20.00
Guidelines: This year’s judge is Carolyn Forche.
- The Coniston Prize is awarded to women poets.
- Submit 3-5 previously unpublished poems, no more than 10 pages.
- Include a cover letter and brief bio
- Entries must be previously unpublished.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted
Prize:
- The winner of the Coniston Prize will receive $1,000 and publication.
- Up to 10 finalists will also be awarded $175 and publication.
9. The Chestnut Review
Poetry, Prose & Flash Competitions 2026
Deadline: Sept 30, 2026
Entry fee: $5
Guidelines:
- simultaneous submissions are accepted
- No previously published work
- NO ELECTRONIC SUBMISSIONS
- They do not accept submissions of AI generated work.
- Language must be English
- All nationalities are welcome to participate
- All those who submit work must be at least 18 years of age
- For poetry submit up to 6 poems
- Flash, 1000 words submission
- Between 1000 and 5000 words are accepted for prose
Prize: publication & US $120 per piece
10. Potomac Review
Fiction, Nonfiction & Poetry submission
Deadline: October 1, 2026
Entry fee: Free
Guidelines:
- Fiction & Nonfiction: 7,500 words.
- Include up to five poems for each submission.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted
Prize: publication
11. 2026 Fractured Lit Flash Fiction
Fiction Writing Competition
Deadline: Mon, Jul 13, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $20
Guidelines: Guest Judge Pamela Painter
- No themes. No prompts.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
- Allow multiple submissions
- Writers from historically marginalized groups will be able to submit for free with cap of 25 free submissions.
Prize: The first-place winner will receive $2,000 and publication, while the fifteen finalists will receive $100 and publication. .
12. Quillkeepers Press Poetry Chapbook Competition Spring 2027
Deadline: Mon, Aug 3, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry fee: $25.00
Guidelines:
- Entrants must be 18 years or older
- Manuscripts should be 25–40 pages
- Do not accept previously published work
- Co-authored collections are not accepted
- Submissions must be written in English
Prize: 5 complimentary copies of their chapbook and a standard publishing contract
13. Cleaver Magazine 2026 Contests
Deadline: open year around
Entry fee: $5.00
Guidelines:
- Submit up to 5 poems
- Submit one story up to 4000 words
- Submit micro-fiction (up to 700 words).
- Submit creative nonfiction) up to 3000 words.
- Submit micro nonfiction or short essays (up to 700 words).
- Multiple submissions are welcome and encouraged
Prize: publication
14. The NARRATIVE| POEM OF THE WEEK
Deadline: open
Entry fee: $19/entry
Guidelines:
- May contain up to five poems.
- Your submission should give a strong sense of your style and range.
- Accept submissions of all poetic forms and genres but do not accept translations.
Prize: Authors are paid $100 (reprints) to $200 for a poem published as a Poem of the Week, and all the Poems of the Week written by new and emerging writers are eligible for our annual $4,000 Narrative Prize.
15. Sundresss Publications
Full-Length Poetry Manuscripts
Deadline : August 31st, 2026
Entry Fee : $15
Guidelines :
- Manuscripts of forty-eight to eighty (48-80)
- Do not consider AI-generated or AI-assisted writing or art.
- Translated from another language will not be accepted.
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
Payment: Standard publication contract, which includes 25 copies of the published book, as well as any additional copies at cost.
16. The Sarabande
Poetry, Fiction, Creative Fiction, Translation and Hybrid
Deadline: Sat, Aug 1, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry fee: $30
Guidelines:
- Poetry manuscripts should have a minimum length 48 pages.
- HYBRID WORKS: poetry length is 48
- Prose manuscripts should be between 150 and 250 standard
- A sample translation of at least 20 pages
Prize: publication
17. Hyebred Magazine
Poetry, Fiction and Nonfiction Prize
Deadline: August 31, 2026
Entry fee: free
Guidelines:
- Send up to 3,500 words per submission.
- Send up to 3 poems per submission.
- They allow simultaneous submissions.
- They allow multiple submissions.
Prize: publication
18. Frontier Poetry Competition
2026 Frontier OPEN
Deadline: Mon, Jul 13, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $20.00
Guidelines: Guest judge Patricia Smith
- Submissions are open to all poets, regardless of publication history.
- Accepts simultaneous submissions
- Send up to three poems per submission
- Submissions must be previously unpublished works.
- Multiple submissions are accepted
Prize: $5,000 prize.
19. Joyland Magazine 2026
Joyland Magazine Free Submissions
Deadline: year round.
Entry fee: free
Guidelines:
- All submissions must be in English.
- welcome works in translation.
- Consider fiction submissions (short stories and stand-alone novel excerpts) of up to 12,000 words.
Prize: $200
Joyland Magazine Paid Submissions
Deadline: year round
Entry fee :$5.00
Guidelines:
- Submissions must be in English.
- We welcome works in translation.
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
- Consider fiction submissions (short stories and stand-alone novel excerpts) of up to 12,000 words.
Payment: $200
20. The Lilliput Press
Literary fiction and Nonfiction
Deadline: 31 July 2026
Entry fee: Free
Guidelines:
- Focused on Irish themes.
- A cover letter and one-page synopsis of your work required
- Three sample chapters or 5000 word equivalent
Prize: publication
21. MIDNIGHT IRELAND
Poetry, Essays And Fiction
Deadline: Aug 15, 2026
Entry fee: Free
Guidelines: cannot accept international submissions
- Accept submissions of a maximum 4 poems across a maximum of 8 pages total.
- Accept prose submissions up to 2,000 words across any genre from a short horror piece to a fantasy excerpt of a longer work
- Previously published poems are not eligible.
- Simultaneous submissions are not accepted.
Prize: publication
22. Blackbird Submission
Creative Fiction
Deadline: Aug 15, 2026
Entry fee: $3.00
Guidelines:
- Send a prose piece over 8,000 words.
- Send one prose piece at a time.
- Blackbird does not accept previously published work.
- Simultaneous submissions are acceptable
- Translations are welcome
Prize: Publication
23. Flash Frog
Flash Fiction
Deadline: Jul 31, 2026
Entry fee: Free
Guidelines:
- 1,000 words maximum.
- Simultaneous submissions are encouraged
- Multiple submissions are not welcome
Prize: $25 per story
24. The Brink Prize
Hybrid Fiction
Deadline: Sat, Aug 1, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $25.00
Guidelines:
- The contest is open to all writers and artists who identify their work as hybrid or cross-genre in nature
- Submit up to 15 pages of unpublished work
- One previously unpublished submission per entrant
Prize: $700
25. Red Rock Review
Poetry, Short Fiction and Creative Fiction
Deadline: Thu, Oct 1, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $2.00
Guidelines: Prose judge: Emily Mitchell & Poetry judge: Kimberly Johnson.
- Prose submissions up to 5,000 words.
- Poetry submissions of no more than 80 lines
- Send no more than five poems/ ten pages of poetry per submission.
- Send no more than one story or essay in a single submission.
Prize: Publication and Two free contributor copies
26. The Ex-Puritan Writing Competitions
Poetry
Deadline: Sat, Sep 26, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry fee: $3.00
Guidelines:
- include a succinct description of no more than 250 words in the Cover Letter field.
- Submissions should not exceed 5000 words.
Prize: $50 PER POEM, OR $100 PER POET IF MULTIPLE POEMS ACCEPTED
Essays
Deadline: Sat, Sep 26, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry Fee: $3.00
Guidelines : no more than 250 words in the Cover Letter. Submissions should not exceed 5000 words.
Payment: $200 PER ESSAY
27. The Literary Journal
Deadline: 31 August, 2026
Entry fee: $15.00
Guidelines: The theme for Superlative’s 2026 annual writing competition is GROWTH.
- Encourage transgressive and experimental work.
- Do accept simultaneous submissions
- allows one poem submission up to 3 pages.
Prize: £50 contributor prize.
28. Cygnus Magazine
Poetry and Prose
Deadline: 1st August, 2026
Entry fee: $4.22
Guidelines:
- Do accept previously published work
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed
- Send a maximum of 5 poems not exceeding 12 pages.
- Accept poems of all forms and styles.
- Submit only one short story not exceeding 5000 words and one flash fiction not exceeding 2500 words.
Prize: $33 to $50 and free digital copies
29. The Poem Stellium
Same Minds, Different Continents
Deadline: TBA
Entry fee: £1
Guidelines:
- Eligibility: International poets, 18+
- Submit: One poem only (maximum 150 words)
- Theme: Beginnings: across distance, across self, across the world
Prize: publication
Anthology: The Beginners of a Poet’s Journey
Deadline: TBA
Entry Fee: £1
Guidelines :
- Theme: The Beginners of a Poet’s Journey
- Eligibility: UK-based poets, 18+
- Submit one poem only (maximum 150 words).
Payment: publication
30. Reed Magazine
Fiction, Poetry, Non- Fiction
Deadline: Fri, Oct 2, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $20
Guidelines: judges: Suzanne Rico
- John Steinbeck Award for Fiction 2027: limit submissions to 5,000 words.
- Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction 2027: limit prose submissions to 5,000 words.
- Edwin Markham Prize for Poetry 2027: submit up to five (5) poems per submission.
Prize: Fiction-$1,000, Poetry-$1,000, Non- Fiction-$1,333
31. Demitasse Submission
Poetry, Essays, Prose
Deadline: Aug 22, 2026
Entry fee: Free
Guidelines:
- Prose (1.5K-5K words)
- Poetry (3 piece max, 7 page limit collectively)
- Visual Art (10 piece max)
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted
Prize: publication
32. The Orange Rose litmag
Deadline: August 9, 2026
Entry fee: Free
Guidelines:
- One fiction or CNF piece (1,001 to 3,000 words)
- One flash fiction piece (401-1,000 words)
- Up to three micro fiction pieces (maximum 400 words)
- Up to three poems (each poem should start on its own page)
- Fiction or Creative Nonfiction: Submissions of up to 10,000 words.
- Simultaneous submissions are acceptable.
Prize: publication
33. Blue Mesa Review
Poetry, Fiction and Creative Non Fiction
Deadline: Sun, Nov 1, 2026 11:30 AM
Entry fee: $3.00
Guidelines:
- Accepts previously unpublished work only
- Fiction (up to 6,000 words)
- Nonfiction (up to 6,000 words)
- Poetry (up to 3 poems),
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted
- Multiple entries are accepted
Prize: publication
34. Yolk Submission
Poetry, Fiction & Non- Fiction
Deadline: Sat, Aug 1, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry fee: $3.00
Guidelines:
- Poetry: Our print publication is open to all Canadian writers. Submit a maximum of three poems; do not exceed 6 pages.
- Fiction: Do not exceed 4,000 words. Writers may submit up to two stories, but will have to submit them as separate entries.
- Non Fiction: Do not exceed 4,000 words. Writers may submit up to two individual pieces, but will have to submit them as separate entries.
Prize: $100CAD honorarium for digital publication. For print, offer $30 per page up to a maximum of $200.
35. Black Lawrence Press
Poetry, Fiction, Hybrid
Deadline: Sat, Aug 1, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry fee: varies $25- $795
Guidelines: Judge: Rebecca Turkewitz, H.R. Webster, EJ Colen
- Flash fiction, up to 2 pages
- Short stories, up to 20 pages
- Chapbooks, up to 40 pages in length
- Novellas, up to 100 pages in length
- Short story collections, up to 180 pages in length
- Novels, up to 300 pages in length
- Single poems up to 2 pages in length
- Folios of up to 5 poems, up to 7 pages in length
- Chapbooks, up to 40 pages in length
- Full-length manuscripts, up to 80 pages in length
Prize: publication
36. Next Generation Poets 2026
Deadline: 14 Aug ‘26 – 21:30
Entry fee: £24.00
Guidelines: Judges Poetry: Simon Armitage (Chair), Ted Hodgkinson, Imtiaz Dharker, Daljit Nagra, Malika Booker, Sinéad Morrissey, Hanan Issa and Jade Cuttle.
- Eligible poets must have first published a single author DEBUT collection
- The poets must currently be resident in the UK or Ireland.
- Self-published or unpublished works are not eligible.
- Poems must be published in English language
Prize: publication
37. Fluorescent Magazine
Deadline: July 31, 2026.
Entry fee: Free
Guidelines:
- Poetry (<700 words)
- Microfics/flash (<6,000 words)
- Prose (<3,000 words)
- Essays (<4,000 words)
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted
Prize: publication
38. The Hemlock Submission
Poetry, Flash Fiction, Fiction and Non Fiction
Deadline: July 15th, 2026
Entry fee: $15 USD
Guidelines:
- Each submission can contain a maximum of 2 poems and 5 pages in total.
- Pieces shorter than 1000 words are considered Flash Fiction
- Fiction and Non-Fiction: containing from 1000 to 4000 words.
Prize: publication
39. The 2026 Ekphrastic Poetry Prize
Deadline: Mon, Aug 31, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $20.00
Guidelines: Judged by Divya Victor
1. Submissions are open internationally, to any poet writing in English
2. Submission must be no more than three poems and under ten pages.
3. Accept simultaneous submissions and unpublished work only
Prize:
- The winner will be awarded $3,000, publication, and a brief interview in Palette Poetry.
- Second and third place will receive $300 and $200, respectively, as well as publication.
- Finalists may also be considered for publication in our Featured Poetry category.
40. Loblolly Press
Hand to Mouth: Southern Writers on Poverty
Deadline: Tuesday, September 1, 2026 11:59 PM EDT
Entry fee: $5.00
Guidelines:
- Submit original, unpublished work.
- Suggested length: 1 piece, 2,000–6,500 words for prose.
- Poets: 1–2 poems
- Simultaneous submissions allowed
- Include a short third-person bio in your cover letter.
Prize: publication
41. ANMLY
Poetry, Translation, Fiction, Non Fiction, Flash Fiction
Deadline: Sun, Aug 2, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry fee: $3.00
Guidelines:
- Attach up to five poems in a single document.
- Attach 1 story of no more than 5000 words.
- Translation Poetry: 1-6 poems, or up to 10 pages; Prose: Up to 5000 words
Prize: publication
42. Sewanee Review
FICTION, POETRY, AND NONFICTION
Deadline: Sat, Aug 1, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry fee: $30.00
Guidelines:
- Submit 1 short story, 1 essay, or 1-6 poems per entry. All submissions can be up to 10,000 words.
- Submit only one entry per genre.
- Submitted work must be original and previously unpublished
Prize: $1,000 and publication
43. The Tiny Journal
Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry
Deadline: Mon, Nov 2, 2026 10:30 AM
Entry fee: $2.00
Guidelines:
- Submit up to three fiction and/or nonfiction works 1000 words or less.
- Send up to three poems.
- Simultaneous submissions are encouraged
Prize: publication
44. Indiana Review
Fiction, Nonfiction and Poetry
Deadline: Sun, Aug 16, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry fee: $20.00
Guidelines: judge is Diane Seuss.
- Send one to three pieces of 500 words
- Multiple and simultaneous submissions are permitted
- Previously published works and works forthcoming elsewhere cannot be considered.
Prize: $1000 + publication
45. Tupelo Press
Fiction,Nonfiction , Translation
Deadline: Aug 31, 2026
Entry fee: $45.00
Guidelines:
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted
- Multiple submissions are accepted
- No word limit
Prize: publication
46. The Table Review
Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction
Deadline: Sun, Aug 16, 2026 9:30 AM
Entry fee: Free
Guidelines:
- Fiction of up to 8,000 words.
- Nonfiction of up to 10,000 words.
- Submit up to four poems at a time
- All submissions must be previously unpublished
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted
Prize: publication
47. SPELLBINDER
Poetry, Fiction, Nonfiction, Drama, Visual Art
Deadline: 31 July 2026
Entry fee: Free
Guidelines:
- Short Stories: Maximum of 3000 words.
- Flash Fiction: Minimum of 100 words – Maximum of 1000 words.
- Poetry:vMaximum of 40 lines per poem.
- Maximum of 2 poems, all submitted in the same document.
- Creative Nonfiction: Maximum of 3000 words.
- Flash Creative Nonfiction: Minimum of 100 words- Maximum of 1000 words.
Prize: publication
48. POETRY INTERNATIONAL
Summer 2026 Poetry International Tiny Chapbook Competition
Deadline: Wed, Sep 2, 2026 12:30 PM
Entry fee: $20.00
Guidelines:
- Manuscripts can be anywhere from 8-16 page pages in length.
- Work must be previously unpublished as a whole
- Simultaneous submissions are accepted
- Collaborations and translations are welcome
Prize: publication
49. TRP: The University Press of SHSU
The X. J. Kennedy Poetry Prize Prize
Deadline: Thu, Oct 1, 2026 10:30 AM
Entry Fee: $28
Guidelines: 2026 Judge: Phillip B. Williams
- Welcome manuscripts of any style/form.
- Prize is open to poets at any stage of their career.
- Simultaneous submissions are acceptable.
- Manuscripts must be between 50 and 100 pages in length.
- Submitters must be 18+ years of age.
- Translations are not eligible.
Prize: $10,000 Advance + Residency Fellowship at Vermont Studio Center
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