All the top writing contests.

The National Poetry Competition 2026

Deadline: 31 October 2026

The competition is open to anyone aged 18 or over. International entries are welcome. All poems must have a title and must not exceed 40 lines in length. Entries can be on any subject. The first poem submitted costs £9. Subsequent entries in the same submission cost £6 per poem. • 1st prize: £5,000 • 2nd prize: £3,000 • 3rd prize: £2,000

The Moth Nature Writing Prize 2026

Deadline: 30 September 2026

The competition is open to anyone over the age of 16. An entry may be a single poem of any length or a single piece of prose. The entry fee is €16. Prizes: • 1st prize: €1,000 and a week at The Moth Retreat in Ireland • 2nd prize: €500 • 3rd prize: €250

2026 Rattle Poetry Prize

Deadline: 15 July 2026

The competition is open to poets of any nationality writing in English. You may submit up to four poems per entry.The $30 USD entry fee is a one-year subscription to Rattle magazine. The overall winner will receive a cash prize of $15,000. Ten finalists will each receive $500, and be eligible for the $5,000 Reader's Choice Award.

Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition 2026

Deadline: 31 July 2026

The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer.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. Entry fee: €19 per story. Prizes: • 1st prize: €2,000 • 2nd prize: €800 • Four Runners-Up: €400

Winchester Poetry Prize 2026

Deadline: 31 July 2026

The competition is open to anyone aged 16 or over. Poems may be on any subject and in any form or style. Entry fees: £7 for the first poem and £5 for each subsequent poems. • 1st Prize: £1,000 • 2nd Prize: £500 • 3rd Prize: £250

2026 HG Wells Short Story Competition

Deadline: 7 July 2026

The competition is open to anyone. This year's theme is ''The Cheat''. Your story can be set anywhere, feature any characters, and be written in any style. There are two categories: • Authors 21 years of age and under with a prize of £1,000. Entry is free. • Authors aged 22 years and above with a prize of £500 (entry £10 or £5 with student id).