Best Free Writing Contests for 2026
Updated November 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.
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2027 organization hidden — members only Poetry Prize (International)
The organization is awarding the organization Poetry Prize annually for first-edition poetry collections written in or translated into English by living poets from any country, with winners announced at the organization Poetry Prize Readings held in Canada…
$130,000 top prizeOpen · closes Dec 18Free to enter - 2
organization hidden — members only (Cycle Six)
The organization is offering a contract to develop a response into a published book of 25,000 to 40,000 words over approximately seven months for creative thinkers tackling a contemporary social issue, open to entrants at any career stage
$100,000 + moreOpen · closes Jan 27, 2027Free to enter - 3
Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing
The organization is accepting submissions for the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, recognizing excellence in political writing by Canadian writers and publishers with a substantial cash award
C$40,000Open · closes Dec 1Free to enter - 4
2027 J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Prize Entry Form
The organization 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 close the…
$25,000Open · closes Dec 3Free to enter - 5
Fiction (Novel or Short Story Collection)
The organization 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 SGDOngoingFree to enter - 6
organization hidden — members only Collection Prize
The organization is honoring outstanding the organization collections, recognizing a single author's excellence in short fiction with national literary recognition for the winning book
$20,000 prizeOpen · closes Nov 16Entry fee: $75 - 7
Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers
The organization 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$12,000OngoingFree to enter - 8
organization hidden — members only FilmFest Screenwriting Prize
The organization is offering the organization FilmFest Screenwriting Prize, a competition with prize money for writers with a German-language feature film screenplay
€12,000 eurosOpens Feb 1, 2027Free to enter - 9
Al and Eurithe organization hidden — members only Poetry Prize 2027
The Al and Eurithe the organization A-the organization Association is offering the Al and Eurithe the organization Poetry Prize, a $10,000 award for an outstanding book of poetry published in 2026 by an established Canadian poet with at least five…
$10,000 prizeOpen · closes Nov 24Free to enter - 10
organization hidden — members only/Malice Domestic Best First Traditional Mystery Novel Competition
The organization and Malice Domestic are seeking unpublished mystery novel manuscripts in the malice domestic genre from debut mystery writers, offering a publishing contract with an advance for the winning manuscript that meets specific genre requirements…
$10,000 advance + royaltiesOpen · closes Nov 30Free to enter
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.
Related lists
- Best Writing Contests for 2026The best writing contests open right now — fiction, poetry, and essay prizes ranked by award size, with deadlines, entry fees, and who can enter.
- Best Poetry Contests for 2026The best poetry contests open for entries right now — single-poem, chapbook, and collection prizes ranked by award size, with deadlines and fees shown.
- Best Short Story Contests for 2026The best short story and flash fiction contests open right now — prizes ranked by award size, with deadlines, word limits, and fees shown.