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Best Writing Contests for 2026

Updated July 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
    Scotiabank Giller Prize

    Scotiabank Giller Canadian Book Prize

    Scotiabank Giller Prize is Canada's most prestigious literary award recognizing excellence in Canadian fiction, with multiple submission deadlines throughout the year

    C$100,000Rolling deadlineFree to enter
  2. 2
    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
  3. 3
    Berggruen Institute

    2026 Berggruen Prize Essay Competition — "A New Axial Age?" — $50,000 Prize

    Berggruen Institute is accepting essays up to 10,000 words on the theme "A New Axial Age?"

    $50,000Deadline: Aug 17, 2026Free to enter
  4. 4
    University of Pittsburgh Press

    Drue Heinz Literature Prize

    University of Pittsburgh Press is offering the Drue Heinz Literature Prize, recognizing an unpublished manuscript of short stories, novellas, or a combination thereof from previously published writers worldwide, with publication by University of Pittsburgh…

    $25,000 + publication by University of Pittsburgh PressDeadline: Jul 31, 2026Free to enter
  5. 5
    University of Melbourne

    Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize

    University of Melbourne is accepting submissions for the Vincent Buckley Poetry Prize, recognizing outstanding poetry with a monetary award

    A$20,000 prizeDeadline: Jul 6, 2026Free to enter
  6. 6
    Baton Rouge Area Foundation

    Baton Rouge Area Foundation – Ernest J

    Baton Rouge Area Foundation is accepting submissions for the Ernest J. Gaines Award for Literary Excellence, recognizing outstanding fiction

    $15,000 cash prizeDeadline: Oct 31, 2026Free to enter
  7. 7
    Rattle

    $15,000 Rattle Poetry Prize

    Rattle is offering an annual Poetry Prize recognizing outstanding unpublished poetry, with the grand prize winner also receiving a one-year subscription to the magazine

    $15,000 grand prizeDeadline: Jul 15, 2026Entry fee: $30.00
  8. 8
    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
  9. 9
    Winning Writers

    Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest

    Winning Writers is offering the Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest with separate categories for contemporary and traditional/rhyming poetry, accepting published and unpublished work from poets at any career stage

    $3,500 first prize per category ($12,000 total)Deadline: Oct 1, 2026Entry fee: $25
  10. 10
    Simon & Schuster Australia

    Bundyi Writing Prize

    Simon & Schuster Australia is offering the Bundyi Writing Prize for unpublished adult nonfiction of minimum 70,000 words celebrating First Nations voices from emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writers, with manuscript development support from…

    AUD$10,000 cash prize plus manuscript development with a First Nations editor and potential standard book publishing contract with Bundyi ImprintDeadline: Aug 31, 2026Free to enter
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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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