2026 writing competitions
A regularly updated list of writing competitions for 2026, including free entry contests, competitions for children's authors (picture books, chapter books, middle grade and YA), and short story and novel competitions.
2026 Writing Competitions
Looking for 2026 writing competitions? Below is a list of writing competitions open for submission. Opportunities for children’s, YA, short fiction and novel-length manuscripts.
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If you’re like me, you probably have numerous half-finished manuscripts languishing under your bed. Starting a project always feels like so much fun. But finishing it, well that’s just a lot of hard work.
That’s where deadlines can be your best friend. And if self-imposed deadlines don’t carry the necessary weight, writing competitions can be extremely helpful.
Below is a list of open competitions, with a focus on opportunities for children’s manuscripts, literary fiction, and short fiction. It’s a long way from exhaustive and it comes with a disclaimer: You need to do your own legwork. That means checking deadlines, T&Cs, costs, etc
I try to update the page regularly. Follow me on Insta or Facebook for updates or bookmark this page and check back regularly.
2026 writing competitions for children’s and YA authors
The Edinburgh Young Adult Novel Award 10 March 2026 (YA)
The Caterpillar Prize 31 March 2026 (poetry for children)
SCBWI Work in progress award 31 March 2026 (picture book through to YA)
CYA Conference Competition 12 April 2026 (picture book through to YA, and adult)
NZSA Manuscript Assessment programme 28 May 2026 (NZSA members only)
The Yeovil Literary Prize 31 May 2026 (Children's and YA novels, and adult)
Times/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition 1 June 2026 (anything for reader’s aged 7-18)
Book Pipeline Unpublished Contest 25 August 2026 (any age or genre)
The Bath Children’s Novel Award 30 November 2026 (picture book through to YA)
Adult manuscript writing competitions 2026
Perkoff Prize 15 March 2026
Allen & Unwin Commerical Fiction Competition 31 March 2026
Bath Short Story Award 27 April 2026
National Flash Fiction Award NZ 30 April 2026
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 1 Mary 2026
The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize 1 May 2026
ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize 18 May 2026
NZSA Manuscript Assessment programme 28 May 2026
Bath Novel Award 31 May 2026
Bridport Prize - 31 May 2026 2026
Yeovil Literary Prize - 31 May 2026
Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize 30 June 2026
2026 HG Wells Short Story Competition 7 July 2026
Other useful lists
The below sites are also useful for competition opportunities (there will be some crossover):
Almond Press writing competitions
Page updated 7 March 2026
If you’ve got something you’d like included, feel free to message me on socials or flick me an email (emma at emmaverejones dot com)