Ascent Children’s Book Prize
Genre: Children’s Books
Entry Fee: £29
Deadline: July 1, 2026
Prize: First prize of £1,000; every entrant receives access to a free membership area and the top 100 entrants win a personalised paragraph of feedback from industry professionals; highest-scoring manuscripts from underrepresented backgrounds receive Highly Commended Awards
Description: International writing competition for unagented writers. Accepting picture books, chapter books, middle-grade, teen and young adult fiction. Submit up to 3,000 words, a one-line pitch and synopsis.
Details: https://www.ascentnovelprize.com/
Eden Mills Writers’ Festival (EMWF) Read at The Fringe Literary Contest
Genre: Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Poetry
Entry Fee: $20 CAD per entry
Deadline: July 1, 2026
Prize: One winner will be selected in each category to win $150 CAD and an invitation to read at the EMWF
Description: The Read at the Fringe Literary Contest is a special opportunity for aspiring writers to share their work with our audience in Eden Mills. The contest is open to Ontario writers who are unpublished in book format. Full details, including word/page limits, can be found on the EMWF website.
Details: https://edenmillswritersfestival.ca/read-at-the-fringe-literary-contest/
International Amy MacRae Award for Memoir
Genre: Memoir
Entry Fee: $25 (your local currency) per submission
Deadline: July 1, 2026, at 11:59 ET
Prize: $1,000 CAD, the winner will be interviewed, and the winning story published on Alison Wearing’s website and featured in the Memoir Writing Ink course
Description: The International Amy MacRae Award for Memoir is given to an exceptional work of memoir writing. The annual contest was created in celebration of the life of Amy MacRae, and in support of her living legacy to improve the outcomes of women with ovarian cancer. Writers anywhere in the world are invited to enter. Submissions must be no longer than 2,000 words.
Details: https://www.amyaward.com/
North Street Book Prize
Genre: Self-published or hybrid-published books in Art Books, Children’s Picture Book, Creative Nonfiction & Memoir, Genre Fiction, Graphic Novel & Memoir, Middle Grade, Inspirational/Self-Help (new!), Mainstream/Literary Fiction, Middle Grade, and Poetry
Entry Fee: $95 USD per book
Deadline: July 1, 2026
Prize: Grand prize of $10,000 USD, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $500 USD credit at BookBaby, two blurbs from published authors as part of the Atmosphere Press Blurb Matchmaking program, a public author interview at atmospherepress.com, free lodging at the Atmosphere Press oceanside condo in Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica, a Signature Publishing Package from Gatekeeper Press (including professional editing, cover and interior design, and worldwide distribution, a $7,500 USD value), three months of Pro service (a $207 USD value) and a $250 USD account credit from Book Award Pro, a book cover consultation from Laura Duffy Design (a $1,100 USD value, can be assigned to a future book), and 3 free ads in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $525 USD value); Category prizes of $1,000 USD, a marketing analysis and one-hour phone consultation with Carolyn Howard-Johnson, a $300 USD credit at BookBaby, a public author interview at atmospherepress.com, 50% off professional editing services from Gatekeeper Press (regular rate is $55 USD per 1,000 words), three months of Pro service from Book Award Pro (a $207 USD value), design for a custom merchandise item based on the winner’s book cover from Laura Duffy Design, and one free ad in the Winning Writers newsletter (a $175 USD value); Hounourable mention prizes of $500 USD, custom cover design from Gatekeeper Press (a $1,000 USD value) plus three months of Pro service from Book Award Pro (a $207 USD value); Finalist prizes of a free, full-length private critique from Winning Writers (value: $109-$299 USD)
Description: Length limit: 200,000 words maximum. Submit an ebook or a printed book. You may submit a collection of short stories or essays as a single entry. No restriction on age of author. No restriction on year of publication. All self-publishing and hybrid publishing platforms are eligible. All countries eligible except Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus (due to US government restrictions).
Details: https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/north-street-book-prize
Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award
Genre: Television Screenwriting
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: July 1, 2026
Prize: $2,500 USD
Description: Created in 1989, The International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation has its own Constitution, Officers, and independent Board of Trustees. Each year, The Foundation administers the Sir Peter Ustinov Television Scriptwriting Award. The competition is designed to motivate non-American novice writers under the age of 30, and offer them the recognition and encouragement that might lead to a successful career in television scriptwriting. Entrants are asked to create a completed half-hour to one-hour English-language television drama script.
Details: https://www.iemmys.tv/ustinov.aspx
Frontier Poetry Open 2026
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: $20 USD
Deadline: July 12, 2026
Prize: Grand prize of $5,000 USD and publication in Frontier Poetry; ten finalist prizes of $100 USD and publication in Frontier Poetry
Description: In pursuit of recognizing today’s best poets, Frontier Poetry wants to celebrate one outstanding piece of poetry. Open to all poets. The Frontier staff will select the winners and finalists. The winners and honorable mentions will be announced in October 2026. This prize is meant to support and elevate the poetry community on the whole. Frontier Poetry looks forward to offering this annual prize where emerging and established poets are considered in equal measure. No more than three poems per submission. There is no line-limit. Poems may be any length, any style, or any subject.
Details: https://www.frontierpoetry.com/poetry-awards/
Royal Society of Literature (RSL) Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction
Genre: Nonfiction
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: July 13, 2026
Prize: First prize of £10,000; second prize of £5,000; third prize of £2,500
Description: The RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards is for first-time writers of non-fiction through a generous bequest from author and RSL Fellow Giles St Aubyn. This year’s judges are Homi K. Bhahba, Fiona Boyle and Violet Moller.
Details: RSL Giles St Aubyn Awards for Non-Fiction – Royal Society of Literature (rsliterature.org)
New Writers Poetry Competition 2026
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: £10 for one entry, £18 for two entries, and £26 for three entries
Deadline: July 15, 2026
Prize: First prize of £1,000; 4 runner-up prizes of £100 each; five winning entries will be published on the NewWriters.org.uk website and in the next New Writers Anthology
Description: Open to entries from anywhere in the world from writers aged 18 or older. Entries may be poems on any theme or subject up to a maximum of 42 lines (excluding the title). Entries should be submitted through the form on the website HERE. 10% of the proceeds of the competition will be split between two UK-registered charities, Duchenne UK and The Funzi and Bodo Trust.
Details: https://newwriters.org.uk/
PRISM International 2026 Creative Nonfiction Contest
Genre: Creative Nonfiction
Entry Fee: $35 CAD for Canadian entries, $40 CAD for US entries and $45 cad for international entries (includes a one-year subscription or extension to Prism Magazine), plus $5 CAD for each additional entry
Deadline: July 15, 2026
Prize: Grand prize of $1,500 CAD; runner-up prize of $600 CAD; second runner-up prize of $400 CAD
Description: Maximum word count of 6,000 words. Please submit only one piece per submission.
Details: https://prisminternational.submittable.com/submit/358842/2026-creative-non-fiction-contest
Writing Battle Solstice Owl 2026
Genre: Flash Fiction
Entry Fee: $28 USD
Deadline: July 17, 2026, at 10:00 pm ET
Prize: First prize of $500 USD; runner‑up prize of $250 USD; 16 finalist prizes of publication and community recognition; all participants receive peer‑reviewed feedback through the battle rounds
Description: Every Battle, you draw a hand of three cards: one Genre and two Prompts. Your story must weave all three together, but how you interpret them is up to you. Submit an up-to 100 word short story by July 19, 2026, at 10:00 pm ET.
Details: https://writingbattle.com/rules/en_solstice_owl_2026
The Letter Review Prize for Books (Manuscript Contest)
Genre: Books
Entry Fee: $30 USD
Deadline: July 29, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET
Prize: 2 to 4 winners share in the $1,000 USD prize pool and have their submission published; up to 20 submissions will be shortlisted; all entries are considered for publication and for submission to further anthologies such as The Pushcart Prize
Description: Please submit the first 5000 words of your prose manuscript, or 15 pages of poetry. Open to anyone in the world. The entry must not have been traditionally published. Seeking all varieties of novels, short story collections, nonfiction, and poetry collections. Will accept manuscripts which are unpublished, self published, and some which are indie published. Review full entry guidelines for further details. Judged blind.
Details: https://letterreview.com/information/
The Letter Review Prize for Poetry
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: $20 USD
Deadline: July 29, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET
Prize: 2 to 4 winners share in the $1,000 USD prize pool and have their submission published; up to 20 submissions will be shortlisted; all entries are considered for publication and for submission to further anthologies such as The Pushcart Prize
Description: Up to 70 lines. Open to anyone in the world. There are no style or subject restrictions. Judged blind.
Details: https://letterreview.com/information/
The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction
Genre: Short Fiction
Entry Fee: $25 USD
Deadline: July 29, 2026, at 11:59 pm ET
Prize: 2 to 4 winners share in the $1,000 USD prize pool and have their submission published; up to 20 submissions will be shortlisted; all entries are considered for publication and for submission to further anthologies such as The Pushcart Prize
Description: Up to 5000 words. Open to anyone in the world. There are no genre or theme restrictions. Judged blind.
Details: https://letterreview.com/information/
Anthology Short Story Competition
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: €18 per entry
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Prize: First prize of €1,000 and publication in a future issue of Anthology: second prize of €250; third prize of €150
Description: Established to recognize and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication. Open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.
Details: https://anthology-magazine.com/awards/short-story-competition/
Authors on Eighth Writing Contest
Genre: Poetry, Prose, Under 16
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: July 31, 2026, at 11:59 pm MT
Prize: Gold nuggets, cash, Klondike books, and selected entries will be published in The Klondike Sun the following year
Description: The theme is “unfrozen”. Up to 2,500 words. Open internationally. Winners will be announced at the Authors on Eighth Walking Tour.
Details: https://klondikesun.com/authorson8th/?utm_source=copilot.com
Drue Heinz Literature Prize
Genre: Short Fiction
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Prize: $25,000 USD, publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press, and support in the nation-wide promotion of their book
Description: The Drue Heinz Literature Prize recognizes and supports writers of short fiction and makes their work available to readers around the world. The award is open to authors who have published a book-length collection of fiction or at least three short stories or novellas in commercial magazines or literary journals. Eligible submissions include an unpublished manuscript of short stories, two or more novellas with a maximum of 130 double-spaced typed pages, or a combination of one or more novellas and short stories. Novellas are only accepted as part of a larger collection. Manuscripts may be no fewer than 150 and no more than 300 pages.
Details: https://upittpress.org/prize/drue-heinz-literature-prize/
Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: July 31, 2026, at 12:00 am BST
Prize: Winners receive a range of prizes, including membership in The Poetry Society, a stack of poetry goodies, and attendance at a one-week intensive residential Arvon course to develop creative writing skills alongside fellow poets
Description: The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is an opportunity for any young person aged 11-17 to accelerate their writing career. Each year, 100 winners (15 top winners and 85 commended winners) are chosen by two high-profile poets. Poems must be no longer than 40 lines.
Details: https://foyleyoungpoets.org/about/
Ontario Poetry Society’s Ultra Short Poetry Competition 2026
Genre: Poetry
Entry Fee: $10 CAD for up to 5 poems and $2 CAD for each additional submission
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Prize: First prize of $100 CAD; second prize of $75 CAD; third prize of $50 CAD; fourth prize of $25 CAD; 40 Judge’s Choice Awards; all winning poems will be published in a chapbook anthology
Description: Open to Canadians and permanent residents of Canada only. Poems are to be no longer than 8 lines and no more than 8 words on a line. Spaces between the stanzas count as lines.
Details: https://theontariopoetrysociety.ca/contest-ultra-short-2026.html
Polar Expressions Publishing 2026 National Poetry Contest and National Short Story Contest
Genre: Poetry and Short Story
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Prize: Over $3,500 CAD will be awarded in cash and other prizes
Description: Annual contests held each summer by Polar Expressions Publishing and open to Canadian residents and citizens of all ages. There is one division for 16 and over, and a separate division for 15 and under. Poems must be 48 lines or less. Short stories must be 750 words or less.
Details: http://polarexpressions.ca/SummerContests.html
San Francisco Writers Conference (SFWC) 2025 Writing Contest
Genre: Fiction, Nonfiction, Children’s Books, Poetry
Entry Fee: $35 USD per entry
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Prize: Grand prize of registration to the 2026 San Francisco Writers Conference; four category prizes of a 2026 Summit Registration of their choice or an equivalent discount to the main conference
Description: Entries may have been self-published or not-yet-published but not traditionally published. Entries can be up to 1,500 words in length (or less, but not more) and should be the first 1,500 words of a novel or book, an essay, article, novella, short story, novelette, etc. For poetry entries, you may submit up to three poems at a time in one document, as long as their total combined word count is at 1,500 or less. They will be judged individually.
Details: https://www.sfwriters.org/contests-and-scholarships/2025-writing-contest-overview/
Séan Ó’Faoláin International Short Story Competition 2026
Genre: Short Story
Entry Fee: €19 per story
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Prize: First prize of €2,000, a reading at the Cork International Short Story Festival with four-night hotel stay (if living outside Cork), and full board publication in Southword; second prize of €800 and publication in Southword; four runner-up prizes of €400 and publication in Southword
Description: Open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. The story can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. Translated work is not in the scope of this competition.
Details: https://munsterlit.ie/ofaolain-competition/
Sky Arts Royal Society of Literature (RSL) Writers Awards
Genre: Emerging Writers of Colour
Entry Fee: None
Deadline: This award is on hiatus as RSL seeks a new funder
Prize: Five awards of ten free mentoring sessions over the course of 12 months and two sessions with Awards Ambassador Bernardine Evaristo
Description: Launched in 2021 in partnership with Sky Arts, the Sky Arts RSL Writers Awards celebrate and nurture British writers of colour at the beginnings of their careers. Five winners will receive ten mentoring sessions over the course of 12 months with an RSL Fellow writing in their form, as well as two sessions with Awards Ambassador Bernardine Evaristo. Mentors for the second year of the Awards are Inua Ellams, Jay Bernard, Nadifa Mohamed, Vinay Patel and Nikesh Shukla.
Details: https://rsliterature.org/sky-arts-rsl-writers-awards/