Competitions and Submissions

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: London

This is a full fee scholarship award to the Poetry School / Newcastle University MA in Writing Poetry for an outstanding UK-based applicant who is currently underrepresented in the poetry world. 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...

Deadline: Fri 29 May 2026
Location: International

Uncertain Stories exists to promote short stories, and we welcome short story submissions from both new and established authors all over the world. Read more...

Deadline: Sun 31 May 2026
Location: International

The international writing competition is open to unrepresented and unpublished authors for a novel in any adult fiction genre. Read more...

Deadline: Sun 31 May 2026
Location: International

The Bridport Prize is committed to discovering new writers in poetry, short story, flash fiction, the novel and memoir. The 2026 competition is now open for submissions. Open to writers of any nationality writing in English aged 16 and over. Read more...

Deadline: Sun 31 May 2026
Location: International

Broken Sleep Books are a working-class, small, innovative press, who publish a range of poetry and prose, from a range of writers. They are open for submissions of poetry collections (40 pages+) until 31 May 2026. All submissions considered, regardless of location. Read more...

Deadline: Sun 31 May 2026
Location: International

The Maya Poetry Book Awards is an annual, international competition to recognise the best poetry books produced by indie writers, self-published authors, or books published by small, truly independent presses. We are proud to be a Welsh-based, international contest open to all indie poets globally. Read more...

Deadline: Sun 31 May 2026
Location: Online/London

City St George's University's prestigious Novel Studio programme is now accepting applications for 2026, with a final deadline of 31 May 2026. Read more...