Competitions and Submissions

Deadline: Sun 10 May 2026
Location: International

Literary agency Janklow & Nesbit UK has launched its first ever Translation Prize which will be awarded to a superb translation of fiction into English. Read more...

Deadline: Mon 11 May 2026
Location: England: South West, South East (excluding London), Midlands or North

Four BFI NETWORK Hubs have teamed up with the ScreenSkills Animation Skills Fund to create this new lab for writers to develop, experiment and expand their skills and understanding of storytelling in animation. Read more...

Deadline: Fri 15 May 2026
Location: International

The Montreal International Poetry Prize is committed to encouraging the creation of original works of poetry, to building international readerships, and to exploring the world’s Englishes. Read more...

Deadline: Sun 17 May 2026
Location: Online

Inkspot’s first Flash Fiction Short Story Competition invites flash fiction short stories, with a word count not exceeding 500 words, from writers from anywhere in the world. Short scripts are also welcome. £500 for 500. Read more...

Deadline: Mon 18 May 2026
Location: South West England

Entries on the theme of ‘Between the Lines’ are invited from young writers aged 10-18 for Literature Works' Young Writers’ Flash Fiction Competition 2026. Read more...

Deadline: Mon 18 May 2026
Location: International

Australian Book Review welcomes original short stories of between 2,000 and 5,000 words on any subject and in any style for the 2026 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize, one of the world’s leading prizes for an original short story. Read more...

Deadline: Fri 22 May 2026
Location: Hampshire

Winchester Poetry Festival invites young people across Hampshire to enter this year's Hampshire Young Poets Competition on the theme of 'Food'. Free to enter. Read more...

Deadline: Mon 25 May 2026
Location: UK

The Matthew Lanyon Archive has announced a new national poetry prize, celebrating the life and creative legacy of Matthew Lanyon (1951-2016). Theme: The Archaeology of Tomorrow. The prize is free to enter. Read more...

Deadline: Mon 25 May 2026
Location: UK

The SI Leeds Literary Prize is open to Black and Asian women writers aged 18 or over, based in the UK and writing fiction in English. 2026 sees the 8th edition of this biennial award. Read more...

Deadline: Fri 29 May 2026
Location: UK

The P D James Memorial Fund offers regular payments to a small number of authors who find themselves in financial hardship. It is currently open to applications. Read more...