WRITING COMPETITIONS

At The Writers Herd, we believe there's no better way to gain recognition and showcase your work than through writing competitions. In the future, we're excited to introduce submission options and even host our own competitions. For now, as we continue to grow our community, writing competitions provide excellent opportunities to get noticed.

As writers ourselves, we know how frustrating it can be to browse through endless lists of competitions online. With so many options, it's easy to feel overwhelmed. That's why we're committed to simplifying the process.

Each month, we'll hand-pick key competitions—both free and paid—highlighting those with cash prizes and publication opportunities. We'll feature a mix of niche and popular contests, so whether you're just starting out or have years of experience, you'll find something tailored to your needs.

These will feature monthly, so stay tuned!

Tips for success

  • Check Competition Rules: Always review guidelines carefully to ensure your submissions meet all requirements.
  • Study Past Winners: Reviewing previous winning entries can give you insights into what judges want.
  • Try a Mix of Competitions: Niche competitions might offer better odds, but don't shy away from popular ones for greater exposure and prizes.
  • Keep a Submission Record: Track your entries, rejections, and wins. Check guidelines before submitting the same story to multiple outlets.
  • Embrace Rejection: Use rejection as motivation. If you don't try, you'll never know!
  • Prepare Early: Avoid last-minute submissions by giving yourself ample time to revise and polish your work.

Competition highlights for february 2026 

Poetry Competitions

Keats-Shelley Poetry Prize 2025–26

The Keats–Shelley Poetry Prize invites poets to respond to the themes "Dystopia" or "Utopia", chosen to mark the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley's The Last Man. Poems may interpret the theme freely, but must remain clearly connected to it. Winning and highly commended poems are published in The Keats–Shelley Review and on the Keats–Shelley website.

  • Rules

    • Open to anyone aged 18+

    • Theme: must respond to either "Dystopia" or "Utopia" (entries too far from the theme may not be considered)

    • Maximum length: 30 lines of text

    • Must fit on one side of A4

    • Must be original and previously unpublished

    • Anonymous judging (do not include your name on the poem)

    • AI-generated work is not allowed

  • Prizes

    • Winner: £1,000

    • 2 × Highly Commended: £500 each

    • Winning + highly commended poems published in The Keats-Shelley Review and on the website

  • Entry Fee

    • £10 per poem

  • Deadline

    • 2 February 2026 (10:00 GMT)

  • More Info

Arundel Literary Festival Poetry Competition 2026

Part of the annual Arundel Literary Festival, this competition invites UK-based writers to submit original poetry, with a parallel flash fiction competition also running. Cash prizes are on offer, alongside the opportunity to read winning work at a celebratory festival event.

  • Rules

    • Original, unpublished poems only

    • Any theme

    • Maximum 40 lines

    • Open to writers aged 16+

    • Open to UK residents only (including Channel Islands)

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: £200

    • 2nd Prize: £100

    • Winners invited to read at a celebratory evening during the Arundel Literary Festival on Saturday 21 March 2026

  • Entry Fee

    • £5 per poem

  • Deadline

    • 23 February 2026

  • More Info

 

The Rigel Contest 2026

An international mixed-genre competition run by Sunspot Lit, seeking one standout piece across poetry, prose, graphic narrative, or visual art, with cash prize and publication on offer.

  • Rules

    • Open internationally to writers and artists

    • Original, unpublished work

      • Prior publication on a personal blog or website is permitted

    • Any genre or theme

    • One piece per submission

    • Multiple entries allowed with separate fees

    • Simultaneous submissions accepted

    • Excerpts from longer works accepted if they stand alone

    • Length limits:

      • Prose: up to 1,500 words

      • Poetry: up to 14 lines

      • Graphic novels: up to 6 pages

      • Artwork: one single piece

  • Prizes

    • Winner: $100 USD and publication in Sunspot Lit

    • Finalists: Publication offered

  • Entry Fee

    • $5 USD

  • Deadline

    • 29 February 2026

  • More Info

 

CA Poetry and Spoken Word Competition 2026

A free, international poetry and spoken word competition run by the Classical Association in collaboration with Sir John Soane's Museum, inviting creative responses inspired by classical objects from the museum's collection.

  • Rules

    • Open internationally to entrants of all ages

    • Original, unpublished work only

    • Entries must be written or performed in English

    • Inspired by one or more of the selected museum objects

    • Verse (written poetry): up to 1,000 words

    • Voice (spoken word): up to 8 minutes

    • Up to two entries allowed per person

    • AI must not be used

  • Prizes

    • £2,000 total prize fund, shared between winning poets

    • Opportunity to read winning work at Sir John Soane's Museum

  • Entry Fee

    • Free

  • Deadline

    • 27 February 2026

  • More Info

Short Story Competitions

Rhys Davies Short Story Competition 2026

A long-running and respected short story prize recognising outstanding unpublished fiction by writers with strong Welsh connections, organised by Swansea University Cultural Institute in association with Parthian Books.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers aged 18+

    • Must have been born in Wales, lived in Wales for two years or more, or be currently living in Wales

    • Original, unpublished short stories only

    • Any subject or style

    • Maximum 5,000 words

    • AI-generated work not permitted

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: £1,000 and publication in a Parthian Books short story anthology

    • Runners-up / Finalists: £100 each and publication in the same anthology

  • Entry Fee

    • £8 per story

    • 40 free entry places available for low-income writers (one per person)

  • Deadline

    • 16 February 2026

  • More Info

Free Flash Fiction Competition Thirty-Two

A short, accessible flash fiction competition run by Free Flash Fiction, welcoming concise stories on any theme, with cash prizes and online publication.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers worldwide

    • Open to writers aged 16+

    • Original, unpublished flash fiction only

    • Any theme or style

    • Written in English

    • 100–300 words (title not included)

    • No AI-generated work permitted

  • Prizes

    • Winner: £165 and publication

    • Highly Commended (2): £77 each and publication

    • Shortlisted (3): £66 each and publication

  • Entry Fee

    • £4.40 per entry (PayPal or Stripe)

    • £2.95 per entry via BACS (UK accounts only)

  • Deadline

    • 23 February 2026 (10:00pm UK time)

  • More Info

Fish Flash Fiction Prize 2026

A long-running international flash fiction competition run by Fish Publishing, challenging writers to tell a complete and compelling story in 300 words or fewer, with significant cash prizes and anthology publication.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers worldwide

    • Original, unpublished flash fiction only

    • Any theme or style

    • Written in English

    • Maximum 300 words (title not included)

    • Winning stories must be available for inclusion in the Fish Anthology 2026

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: €1,000

    • 2nd Prize: Online Writing Course + €300

    • 3rd Prize: €300

    • Top 10 stories published in the Fish Anthology 2026

    • Published authors receive five copies of the anthology and an invitation to read at the West Cork Literary Festival (July 2026)

  • Entry Fee

    • €16 first entry

    • €11 subsequent entries

    • Optional critique available (additional fee)

  • Deadline

    • 28 February 2026

  • More Info

Edinburgh Short Story Award 2026

A major international short story prize run by the Scottish Arts Trust, welcoming unpublished short fiction in any genre, with substantial cash prizes and publication in the annual Edinburgh Anthology.

  • Rules

    • Open to writers worldwide, published and unpublished

    • Open to writers aged 16+

    • Any theme or genre

    • Written in English

    • Stories must be suitable for an adult audience

    • Maximum 2,000 words (title not included)

    • Simultaneous submissions permitted

    • AI-generated work not permitted

  • Prizes

    • 1st Prize: £3,000

    • 2nd Prize: £500

    • 3rd Prize: £250

    • Isobel Lodge Award: £750 (unpublished writers in Scotland)

    • Write Mango Award: £300 (most amusing or bizarre story, worldwide)

    • First Write Award: £300 (unpublished writers worldwide)

    • Five Commendations: £100 each

    • Publication offered to the top 15 stories in the annual Edinburgh Anthology

  • Entry Fee

    • £11 per story

  • Deadline

    • 28 February 2026 (23:59 UK time)

  • More Info

 

The Libraro Prize

A free-to-enter, international manuscript prize run by Libraro in partnership with Hachette UK, aiming to discover the next standout adult fiction or crossover YA novel, with a major publishing deal and prize package for the winner.

  • Rules

    • Open worldwide to writers aged 18+

    • English-language fiction novel for adults, including crossover YA

    • Full-length manuscript required (40,000+ words)

    • Sole-author submissions only

    • One submission per author

    • Must be original and not AI-generated

    • Submitted through the Libraro platform

    • Reader engagement contributes to shortlisting (not the only factor)

  • Prizes

    • Winner: £50,000 package and a book deal with Hachette UK

      • Typically structured as £30,000 advance + £20,000 marketing contribution

  • Entry Fee

    • Free

  • Deadline

    • 16 February 2026

  • More Info