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Best Writing Contests for 2026

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

This list ranks the best writing contests currently open to entries, ordered by prize size with free-to-enter contests ranked ahead of fee-based ones. Every contest shows its deadline and entry fee up front, and closed contests drop off automatically — everything here is open right now.

  1. 1
    Writers' Trust of Canada

    Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction

    Writers' Trust of Canada is offering the Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Nonfiction to recognize excellence in Canadian nonfiction writing, with multiple submission deadlines throughout the year

    C$75,000Rolling deadlineFree to enter
  2. 2
    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
  3. 3
    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
  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
    Script Pipeline

    Script Pipeline TV Writing Contest

    Script Pipeline is offering a TV writing competition with cash prize, introduction to industry professionals, extensive industry circulation, and long-term script development, for all international writers with a TV pilot screenplay

    $20,000Deadline: Sep 25, 2026Entry fee: $55 / $60 / $65 / $70
  6. 6
    Fiction Collective 2

    2027 FC2 Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize

    Fiction Collective 2 is accepting submissions for the Catherine Doctorow Innovative Fiction Prize, open to mid-career and established U.S.

    $15,000 and publication by FC2 (University of Alabama Press)Deadline: Nov 1, 2026Entry fee: $25.00
  7. 7
    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
  8. 8
    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
  9. 9
    Zócalo Public Square

    Zócalo Public Square Book Prize

    Zócalo Public Square is awarding their annual Book Prize to the U.S.-published nonfiction book that best enhances understanding of community and social cohesion, with the winning author participating in a public program in Los Angeles in spring 2026

    $10,000 to the winning authorDeadline: Oct 16, 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 writing contests worth entering?+

Selectively, yes — prioritize contests where the prize meaningfully exceeds the entry fee, the judge or publisher carries weight in your genre, and finalists get published or agented attention. A win or shortlist is a durable career credential.

Should I pay entry fees for writing contests?+

Modest fees ($10–$30) are standard for prizes run by literary magazines and presses — they fund the prize. Be skeptical of high fees relative to the award. This list ranks free-to-enter contests ahead of fee-based ones at the same prize level.

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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