Writing Contests Closing in December 2026
Writing Contests with application deadlines in December 2026, sorted by what closes soonest. Deadlines, awards, and entry fees shown on every listing — closed listings drop off automatically.
12 open right now
Cash prizes stated on the listing — no pay-to-enter-win-nothing contestsDeadlines tracked daily; closed contests drop off automaticallyPoetry, fiction, flash, CNF, and essay prizes
Closing soonest
- Contest · WritingCai Emmons Short Fiction Contest entryDeadline December 1, 2026$200Fee: $7.00
- Contest · WritingW.S. Porter Prize for Short Story Collections — $1,000 + PublicationDeadline December 1, 2026$1,000Fee: $25
- Contest · Writing2027 Chapbook ContestDeadline December 15, 2026$500Fee: $30.00
- Contest · Writing2026 Biennial Letters Competition (organization hidden — members only)Deadline December 15, 2026$100Fee: $15–$25 depending on category
- Contest · WritingWinter in Variations: Bill Holm Witness Poetry Contest - Publication & $25 Award. December 18th, 2026 DeadlineDeadline December 18, 2026$25Fee: $5.00
- Contest · WritingLouise Glück Prize for Best Poem or ProseDeadline December 24, 2026$1,000
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only Virginia Woolf Award for Fiction (2026) *Deadline December 31, 2026$100Fee: $25
- Contest · WritingHollis Summers Poetry Prize 2027Deadline December 31, 2026$1,000Fee: $30.00
- Contest · WritingAfrican Diaspora Award 2027Deadline December 31, 2026Up to $1,000Fee: $10.00
- Contest · WritingThe organization hidden — members only Workshop PrizeDeadline December 31, 2026$100Fee: $50
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only Weekly Short Story ContestDeadline December 31, 2026$250
- Contest · Writing2026 organization hidden — members only Pauline Uchmanowicz Poetry AwardDeadline December 31, 2026$1,000Fee: $30.00