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.
23 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: $25.00
- Contest · Writing2026 Poetry Contest — The Ralph Gustafson Prize for Best PoemDeadline December 1, 2026$65Fee: $35 CAD first entry (Canada) / $50 CAD (international); $10 CAD each additional entry
- Contest · WritingThe James Dickey Prize for PoetryDeadline December 1, 2026$1,000Fee: $25.00
- Contest · Writing2026 Bio-Sanctuary Writing ContestDeadline December 1, 2026$500Fee: $10
- Contest · WritingSummer 2026 Tiny Chapbook CompetitionDeadline December 2, 2026Fee: $15
- Contest · WritingStart A Riot! Poetry Chapbook Prize — Publication, $3000 Prize, $1000 for Tour/PromoDeadline December 2, 2026$3,000
- Contest · Writing❄︎ (2026W) organization hidden — members only Poetry PrizeDeadline December 2, 2026$50Fee: $5.00
- 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 · WritingGearhart Poetry Contest 2026Deadline December 20, 2026$750Fee: $16.00
- Contest · WritingNed Stuckey-French Nonfiction Contest 2026Deadline December 21, 2026$750Fee: $16.00
- Contest · WritingWorld's Best Short-Short Story Contest 2026Deadline December 21, 2026$750Fee: $16.00
- Contest · WritingLouise Glück Prize for Best Poem or ProseDeadline December 24, 2026$1,000
- 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 · Writingorganization hidden — members only Weekly Short Story ContestDeadline December 31, 2026$250
- Contest · WritingSubmit a short story/poem to the 2027 annual journal competition (1st prize £500) - EARLYBIRD SUBMISSION 25% OFFDeadline December 31, 2026£500
- Contest · Writingorganization hidden — members only Virginia Woolf Award for Fiction (2026)Deadline December 31, 2026$100Fee: $25.00
- Contest · Writing53-Word Story ContestDeadline December 31, 2026Fee: $30.00
- Contest · WritingThe organization hidden — members only Workshop PrizeDeadline December 31, 2026$100Fee: $50
- Contest · Writing2026 organization hidden — members only Pauline Uchmanowicz Poetry AwardDeadline December 31, 2026$1,000Fee: $30.00