Writing competitions 2026

Looking for 2026 writing competitions? Want to know where to submit your manuscript? See our list of open submissions, including children’s writing competitions and competitions for adult fiction.

Writing Competitions 2026

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.

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.

Children’s and Young Adult writing competitions 2026

The Edinburgh Young Adult Novel Award (10 March 2026)

The Yeovil Literary Prize - Children's and YA included (31 May 2026)

Adult manuscript writing competitions 2026

The Lucy Cavendish Fiction Prize (7 January 2026)

Bath Flash Fiction Award (1 February 2026)

Calibre Essay Prize (3 February 2026)

Edinburgh Short Story Awards (28 February 2026)

Fish Flash Fiction Prize (28 February 2026)

The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize (6 March 2026)

Allen & Unwin Commerical Fiction Competition (31 March 2026)