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Best Free Writing Contests for 2026

Updated September 2026 · Top 10 · Ranked automatically from live listings

Every contest on this list is free to enter — no submission fees, ever — and offers a real cash prize or publication. It ranks the best no-fee writing contests currently open, ordered by prize size with the soonest deadlines breaking ties, and closed contests drop off automatically.

  1. 1
    Columbia Journalism School - Professional Prizes

    2027 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Prize Entry Form

    Columbia Journalism School is awarding two J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Prizes annually to nonfiction writers with completed publisher contracts working on significant books about American political or social concern, providing financial support to help…

    $25,000Deadline: Dec 3, 2026Free to enter
  2. 2
    Epigram Literary Foundation Ltd

    Fiction (Novel or Short Story Collection)

    Epigram Literary Foundation Ltd is accepting novel or short story collection submissions for their annual Fiction Prize, with shortlisted entries announced in November and the winner announced the following January

    $25,000 SGDRolling deadlineFree to enter
  3. 3
    Eccles Institute (British Library) & Hay Festival

    Eccles Institute & Hay Festival Global Writers Award (2027 cycle)

    Eccles Institute & Hay Festival is offering the Global Writers Award to two writers—one based in the UK and one based in Latin America—working on early-stage fiction or non-fiction projects relating to the Americas, providing a year-long research residency…

    £20,000 (paid in four quarterly grants) + research residencyDeadline: Sep 14, 2026Free to enter
  4. 4
    Swansea University

    Dylan Thomas Prize

    Swansea University is offering the Dylan Thomas Prize, recognizing the best published literary work in the English language by authors aged 39 or under, with winners announced at an awards ceremony and celebrated for excellence across all genres

    £20,000Deadline: Nov 6, 2026Free to enter
  5. 5
    Baton Rouge Area Foundation

    Baton Rouge Area Foundation – Ernest J

    Baton Rouge Area Foundation is accepting submissions for the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, recognizing outstanding fiction

    $15,000 cash prizeDeadline: Oct 31, 2026Free to enter
  6. 6
    Writers Trust of Canada

    Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers

    Writers Trust of Canada is offering the Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers to recognize and support emerging writers from the LGBTQ2S+ community, with multiple annual submission deadlines

    C$12,000 (LGBTQ2S+ emerging writers)Rolling deadlineFree to enter
  7. 7
    Emden-Norderney International Film Festival

    Emden FilmFest Screenwriting Prize

    Emden-Norderney International Film Festival is offering the Emden FilmFest Screenwriting Prize, a competition with prize money for writers with a German-language feature film screenplay

    12,000 eurosFree to enter
  8. 8
    Changes

    Changes – The Changes Book Prize

    Changes is accepting submissions for The Changes Book Prize recognizing outstanding poetry collections

    10,000Deadline: Oct 1, 2026Free to enter
  9. 9
    Zócalo Public Square

    Zócalo Public Square – Zócalo Book Prize

    Zócalo Public Square is accepting submissions for the Zócalo Book Prize, recognizing outstanding nonfiction writing

    $10,000Deadline: Oct 10, 2026Free to enter
  10. 10
    Premiere Stages at Kean University

    Play Festival 2027-2028 — New Play Competition

    Premiere Stages at Kean University is accepting submissions for their annual Play Festival, offering an Equity production in the 2028 season for the winning full-length play, with finalists selected for public Equity readings in June 2027 in Union, New…

    $10,000 award plus an Equity production for the winner; $3,000 plus a 29-hour staged reading for the runner-up; $1,000 for each other finalistDeadline: Nov 1, 2026Free to enter
Browse all opportunities →

How this list works

This ranking is recomputed automatically from CozyJobs' live opportunity data — no editorial picks. Larger awards rank first, free-to-enter programs rank ahead of fee-based ones at the same award level, and the soonest deadlines break ties. Opportunities past their deadline drop off automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Are free writing contests legitimate?+

Yes — many respected prizes are free to enter, typically funded by foundations, universities, or publishers rather than entry fees. Free contests draw more entries, so odds are longer, but the downside is zero: you risk nothing but the writing time.

What's the catch with no-fee contests?+

Read the fine print on rights: a few free contests ask for first publication rights or broad licenses to all entries, not just winners. Reputable prizes only take rights to winning pieces, and usually just first publication.

How is this list ranked and how often does it update?+

Rankings are recomputed automatically from live data: larger awards first, then free-to-enter programs, then the soonest upcoming deadlines. Closed or past-deadline opportunities drop off automatically, so every entry is open at the time you're reading.

Does CozyJobs list opportunities with entry fees?+

Yes, contests and residencies with modest entry fees are included when the award justifies it, and each listing shows the fee up front. Free-to-enter opportunities are ranked ahead of fee-based ones at the same award level.

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