Competitions, submissions and other opportunities

Deadline: 31 July to 30 Nov 2025

Anthology Creative Competitions 2025

Six writing competitions are currently open for submissions at Anthology, with deadlines ranging from 31 July to 30 November 2025. Check out each one individually on their website. Prizes range from €150 to €1,000 with entry fees starting at €12.

• Short Story Competition: 1st prize €1,000. Entry fee €18. Deadline 31 July 2025.
• Personal Memoir Competition: 1st prize €500. Entry fee €15. Deadline 31 August 2025.
• Flash Fiction Competition: 1st prize €300. Entry fee €12. Deadline 30 September 2025.
• Nature Writing Competition: 1st prize €300. Entry fee €15. Deadline 30 September 2025.
• Poetry Competition: 1st prize €1,000. Entry fee €18. Deadline 31 October 2025.
• Travel Writing Competition: 1st prize €1,000. Entry fee €12. Deadline 30 November 2025.

See website for full details on how to submit.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 July 2025

Fiction Factory Poetry Competition 2025

Fiction Factory is currently seeking poems (max. 40 lines in length) for its annual poetry competition. Winning entries will be published on the Fiction Factory website, as well as in a planned anthology (to be published at a later date). The overall winner will receive £100, feedback on five poems, and an hour-long mentoring session. Entries should be formatted as a Microsoft Word document and can be submitted directly via the Fiction Factory’s email address (words@fiction-factory.biz).

Accepted forms: Poetry.

Prize: 1st place £100.

Entry fee: £5 (£9 for 2 poems, £12 for 3).

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 July 2025

The Hope Prize 2025

The Hope Prize is an international writing competition open to writers aged 18 and over living anywhere in the world. Stories should align with the core themes of hope, courage, and resilience, as personally experienced or imagined by you, the writer. The competition is limited to prose only – i.e. fiction or narrative nonfiction (including memoir). It does not cater to poetry, essays, or academic writing.

Accepted forms: Short stories/narrative non-fiction.

Prize: 1st prize $10,000 AUD; 2nd prize $2,000 AUD; 3rd prize $1,000 AUD. All highly-commended and winning entries will be will be published in an anthology by Simon & Schuster Australia.

Entry fee: $20 AUD (30 June); $30 AUD (until 31 July).

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 July 2025

Literature Ireland/Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation: Literary Translator in Residence – Romanian

Literature Ireland and Trinity Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation are currently seeking applications for a Literary Translator in Residence. This is an opportunity for a translator working from Irish or English into Romanian to spend October and November 2025 immersing themselves in Dublin’s rich literary and cultural life.

The successful candidate will be asked to work on their translation-in-progress, to immerse themselves in Dublin’s cultural life, to contribute to activities in the MPhil in Literary Translation at Trinity College, and to hold one public event near the end of their stay.

See the Centre’s website for details on how to apply.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 July 2025

The Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition 2025

The Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition is now open for entries. This year’s competition will be judged by 2025 Frank O’Connor Fellow Laura Jean McKay, is open to original, unpublished, unbroadcasted short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. See Munster Literature Centre’s website for full details.

Accepted forms: Short stories.

Prize: 1st prize €2,000.

Entry fee: €19.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 July 2025

Wild Atlantic Words Short Story Competition 2025

The Wild Atlantic Words Festival is currently seeking submissions of original short stories for its annual short story competition – this year, to be judged by award-winning novelist Eimear McBride. Stories can run up to 3,000 words in length and should be submitted as a .pdf via the Wild Atlantic Words website.

Accepted forms: Short stories.

Prize: 1st prize €500; 2nd prize €250.

Entry fee: €10.

More Information here:

Deadline: 1 August 2025

ACRE Project/Kildare County Council Artist in Residence 2025

The ACRE Project and Kildare County Council Arts Service welcome applications for an artist-in-residence programme based in the ACRE Project, Celbridge, County Kildare. The programme will support an artist to develop their professional practice and/or develop a specific artistic project, alongside a programme of public-facing workshops to engage communities from the local area. It is envisaged that the successful candidate’s professional practice will complement the public engagement element of this residency, and vice versa.

The ACRE Project Artist in Residence Bursary Award will provide an artist with:

• An Artist in Residence Bursary award (€15,000) to include expenses.
• Access to office facilities and workshop space one day a week at the ACRE Project (Fridays).
• 30-week residency in the ACRE Project’s creative space (October 2024 – June 2025).

See Kildare County Council’s website for more information.

More Information here:

Deadline: 15 August 2025

Tyrone Guthrie Centre Bursary Awards for Children’s Books Artists in 2025

Children’s Books Ireland and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre are pleased to announce an opportunity for Irish Children’s books artists and illustrators to avail of a week-long residency, to take place between 3rd and 10th November and 17th and 24th November 2025

• One bursary is on offer to support an upcoming, unpublished, aspiring Irish children’s author
• One bursary is on offer to support an emerging artist, published but in their early career
• One bursary is on offer to support a children’s artist published in the Irish language, at any stage in their career
• The additional  bursaries are on offer to support mid-career artists

More Information here:

Deadline: 15 August 2025

Yale Drama Series for Emerging Playwrights 2026

The Yale Drama Series is currently seeking submissions of original, unpublished plays for the 2026 edition of its annual playwriting competition. The winner of the competition will be awarded the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000; receive publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press; and receive a staged reading at the Schwarzman Center at Yale University.

The winning play will be selected by the series’ current judge, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins. See the Yale University Press website for full details on page count and formatting.

Accepted forms: Plays.

Entry fee: None.

More Information here:

Deadline: 20 August 2025

Knocklyon Literary Festival Writing Competition

Submissions are now open for the Knocklyon Literary Festival Writing Competition. Writers can apply in either one of two categories – fiction (max. 500 words) or poetry (max. 30 lines) – and can enter up to three pieces. Shortlisted authors will be notified via email and invited to the award ceremony on the 17th September. See Knocklyon Literary Festival’s website for full details.

Accepted forms: Short stories and poems.

Prize: A specially inscribed trophy.

Entry fee: €5 per submission (max three).

More Information here:

Deadline: 23 August 2025

FFF (Free Flash Fiction) Competition Twenty-Nine

Free Flash Fiction is currently seeking submissions of original short stories (100 to 300 words) for its twenty-ninth flash fiction competition. See the FFF website for full details.

Accepted forms: Flash fiction.

Prize: 1st place £150; two highly commented writers £70; three shortlisted writers £60.

Entry fee: £3.95 per entry.

More Information here:

Deadline: 28 August 2025

The 2026 V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize

The Royal Society of Literature is currently seeking entries of original, unpublished stories between 2,000 and 4,000 words in length for the annual V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize. The competition, now in its 25th year, will be judged by writers Kirsty Gunn, Anjali Joseph, and Tom Vowler. For full details see the RSL’s website.

Accepted forms: Short stories.

Prize: £1,000 and publication in the RSL Review.

Entry fee: £8 per entry (fifty free places for low-income writers).

More Information here:

Deadline: 29 August 2025

Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival 2025 Non-Fiction Competition

The Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival is currently seeking submissions of original non-fiction for its annual writing competition. Entries can run up to 400 words in length (excluding title) and can focus on any subject or theme. Writers are instructed to submit their entries as a Microsoft Word doc to lkcqfest@gmail.com. All shortlisted entrants will be expected to read at the Prize Winners’ Evening in October 2025.

Accepted forms: Non-fiction.

Prize: 1st place €150; runners-up €100.

Entry fee: None.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 August 2025

Edinburgh Flash Fiction Award 2025

Applications are now open for Britain’s biggest flash fiction prize, the Edinburgh Flash Fiction Award. Stories can run up to 250 words in length (excluding title) and can focus on any subject or theme. In addition to the various prizes on offer, at least twenty of the short-listed stories will be offered publication in a future anthology by the Scottish Arts Trust.

Applications are also open for the 2025 Edinburgh True Flash Fiction Award. This award, which carries a first prize of £500, celebrates memoirs, creative non-fiction, and auto-fiction. Publication will be offered to authors of the top five stories in the Edinburgh Anthology.

Accepted forms: Flash fiction.

Prize: 1st prize £2,000; 2nd prize £500; 3rd prize £250; five commendations £100 each.

Entry fee: £10 per story.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 August 2025

Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition 2025

Munster Literature Centre is currently seeking submissions of 16- to 24-page poetry chapbooks for its annual chapbook competition. Two winners will be selected: one who has yet to publish a solo collection (full-length or chapbook), and one who has already published a collection. The winning chapbooks will be published by Southword Editions and launched at the Cork International Poetry Festival. Up to 25 other entrants will be publicly listed as “highly commended”.

Accepted forms: Poetry chapbooks.

Prize: 1st place €1,000 and chapbook publication; 2nd prize €500 and chapbook publication.

Entry fee: €25 per manuscript

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 August 2025

Skerries Theatre Group Short Cuts Festival 2025

Skerries Theatre Group are currently seeking submissions of original 10-minute plays for their annual Short Cuts Festival. Specifically, the group is looking for ‘bold voices, fresh ideas and unforgettable moments’. Each play should ideally feature a small cast and should be presentable using a basic set. Selected plays will feature in the Festival in April 2026.

Submissions can be emailed to elenahutchens@hotmail.com.

Accepted forms: Short plays.

Contributor fee: None.

Entry fee: None.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 August 2025

503Five Writer Residency Scheme

Applications for Theatre503’s 2026-27 writer’s residency are now open.

The 503Five is an 18-month residency offering five writers the opportunity to develop work and find their creative home at London’s Theatre503. The scheme is designed for writers who have developed their craft to a high standard but are not yet professionally produced. The residency offers:

• £2,000 seed commission
• Peer to peer support
• A series of masterclass workshops
• Industry connections
• Dramaturgical support
• Opportunities for R&D and/or rehearsed readings

The 503Five residency has launched the career of some of the UK’s most successful writers, including Joel Tan, Beth Steel, Jon Brittain, Vinay Patel and Yasmin Joseph. Full details can be found on Theatre503’s website.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 August 2025

Wild Atlantic Writing Awards (WAWA) 11th Edition

Wild Atlantic Writing Awards has announced that its upcoming competition will revolve around the theme of ‘secrets’.

From the WAWA website: ‘Secrets mean many things to many people but one thing is certain, they are hard to keep and always can have intriguing consequences. Benjamin Franklin summed it up best when he said, “Three people may keep a secret, but only if two of them are dead.”‘

Accepted forms: Flash fiction and creative non-fiction (max. 500 words).

Prize: Winners in each category will receive €500, or €1,000 off any one of WAWA’s writing retreats in 2025 or 2026.

Entry fee: €10.

More Information here:

Deadline: 10 September 2025

2025 Taiwan-Ireland Poetry Translation Competition

Founded in 2021 by the National Museum of Taiwan Literature, the Centre for Literary and Cultural Translation at Trinity College Dublin and the Taipei Representative Office in Ireland, the Taiwan-Ireland Poetry Translation Competition invites translators from around the world to translate Taiwan poetry into English, fostering lively cross-cultural dialogue and inspiring a wealth of interpretive creativity.

This year’s featured poem is ‘Like a Song — To 107-year-old Mumu on her journey’ (如歌——致107歲mumu遠行) by Indigenous Taiwan poet and academic Dong Shu-Ming (董恕明). A moving tribute to her grandmother’s 107-year life, the poem weaves together Mandarin, English, Puyuma, and traditional melodies, echoing the century-long story of the Puyuma people and showcasing the rich linguistic and cultural depth of Taiwan Indigenous literature.

For full details on how to apply, see the application form on Google Forms.

More Information here:

Deadline: 29 September 2025

Clandeboye Global Identities Creative Residency in collaboration with ArtsEkta

Artists and writers are invited to apply for a six-week Creative Residency at the historic house estate of Clandeboye, County Down.

The Creative-in-Residence will spend six weeks in May-June 2026, collaborating with communities who do not relate to or visit Clandeboye, to develop new work focusing on global interconnections and complex identities associated with the estate. The value of the residency is £10,000.

The Creative Residency is part of the Historic Houses Global Crossroads project. See website for details on how to apply.

More Information here:

Deadline: 29 September 2025

Mount Stewart Global Plant Networks Creative Residency

The National Trust and the Historic Houses Global Crossroads project are delighted to announce the Mount Stewart Global Plant Networks Creative Residency.

This Creative Residency will develop new work inspired by the global histories of the plants, trees and shrubberies that make Mount Stewart famous. Developed by Lady Edith Londonderry following the First World War, the gardens are home to flora from across Asia, Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, which have thrived within Mount Stewart’s sub-tropical local climate.

Applications are open to artists working in any medium. The appointed creative resident will engage in a six-week residency from May to June 2026 based at Mount Stewart, County Down.

See website for details on how to apply.

More Information here:

Deadline: 30 September 2025

Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2025

Creative Ink is currently seeking submissions of original short stories (max. 3,000 words) for its annual short story competition. Entries can focus on any theme, subject or genre, and can be entered via Creative Ink’s Submittable page. Writers are allowed to submit multiple entries as long as each entry is paid for individually and includes a separate entry form.

Accepted forms: Short stories.

Prize: 1st prize £1000, a free creative writing course of the winner’s choice, and publication on Creative Ink’s website; runners-up £200 each and publication on Creative Ink’s website.

Entry fee: £12.

More Information here:

Deadline: 30 September 2025

The Southword Editor’s Poetry Award Competition

Munster Literature Centre is currently seeking submissions of original poems (three per author) for the 2025 Southword Editor’s Poetry Award Competition. This year, the competition will be judged by the current poetry editor of Southword, Patrick Cotter. See MLC’s website for full details.

Accepted forms: Poetry.

Prize: €1,000, plus publication in Southword.

Entry fee: €24 (includes a one-year, postage-free subscription to Southword).

More Information here:

Deadline: 13 October 2025

The Peter Porter Poetry Prize 2026

Applications for the 2026 Peter Porter Poetry Prize are now open.  Run by the Australian Book Review, the prize – worth a total of AUD$10,000 – is open to all living poets writing in English. The five shortlisted poems will be published in the January–February 2026 issue of ABR and the winner will be announced at a ceremony later that month. This year’s judges are Judith Bishop, Felicity Plunkett, and Anders Villani.

Accepted forms: Poetry.

Prize: 1st place AUD$6,000; four shortlisted writers AUS$1,000.

Entry fee: AUD$30 (includes four-month digital subscription to the ARB).

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 October 2025

Ennis Book Club Festival Short Story Competition 2026

Ennis Book Club Festival is currently seeking submissions of original short stories (max. 3,000 words) for its annual short story competition. This year, Wendy Erskine (author of Sweet Home, Dance Move and The Benefactors) will act as judge. The winning entry will be announced at Ennis Book Club Festival, held from March 6th to 8th 2026, where it will also be read at one of the events.

Accepted forms: Short stories.

Prize: 1st prize €750; 2nd prize €400.

Entry fee: €20.

More Information here:

Deadline: 31 October 2025

National Poetry Competition 2025

The National Poetry Competition, run by the Poetry Society since 1978, is one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for a single unpublished poem. Though the Poetry Society is based in the UK, the competition is open to poets aged 18+ all around the world. This year’s judging panel includes Denise Saul, Ian Duhig and Susannah Dickey.

All poems must have a title and must not exceed 40 lines in length. The top three winners, in addition to receiving prize money, will have their winning poems published in The Poetry Society’s quarterly journal, The Poetry Review.

Accepted forms: Poetry.

Prize: 1st place £5,000; 2nd place £3,000; 3rd place £2,000; commendations £500.

Entry fee: £8 (all subsequent poems £6).

More Information here:

Open from 1 August to 17 November 2025

Historical Novel Society First Chapters Competition 2026

The Historical Novel Society is currently seeking submissions of original historical fiction for the 2026 First Chapters Competition – an annual competition aiming to recognise and promote excellence in the storytelling and craft of historical fiction and its sub-genres. Writers are invited to submit the opening (max. 3,000 words) and a one-page synopsis of a full-length historical novel that has not previously been published in any form. See the HNS website for full details.

Accepted forms: Historical fiction.

Prize: Overall winner £1,000 and a trophy; ten category winners €500 and a free HNS 2026 conference ticket.

Entry fee: £25 for HNS members and £35 for non-members.

More Information here:

Deadline: Ongoing

Guernica: A Magazine of Global Arts & Politics

Founded online in 2004, Guernica is an award-winning 501(c)3 non-profit magazine focused on the intersection of arts and politics. A home for incisive ideas and necessary questions, Guernica publish memoir, reporting, interviews, commentary, poetry, fiction, and multimedia journalism exploring identity, conflict, culture, justice, science, and beyond. They offer honoraria of $50 for poetry, $100 for original essays, and $150 for original fiction and for reportage/journalism.

More Information here:

Deadline: Ongoing

PN Review

PN Review considers submissions in hard copy form only (unless you are an individual subscriber to the magazine, in which case electronic submissions, word files rather than PDFs, will be considered). Writers wishing to send work should familiarise themselves with PN Review. Submissions should generally not exceed fifteen double-spaced pages of work (prose) or four poems/five pages (verse in English or translation). Copies of the original texts should accompany translations where possible. We discourage simultaneous submissions. Writers wishing to propose projects should send a synopsis and covering letter, with sample pages, having first ascertained from the website that the kind of proposal is suitable for PN Review.

We publish no short stories, children’s prose/poetry and very little non-poetry related work (academic, biography etc.) at the current time. We are not considering fiction in English or in translation at this time.

More Information here:

Deadline: Ongoing

The Poetry Review

The Poetry Review, founded in 1912, is the magazine of the Poetry Society, UK, and has a long-standing policy of publishing the very best work by new, up and coming poets, and established poets. All submissions are read by the editor and considered on an equal basis. Unfortunately, due to the volume of submissions we receive, we cannot offer any individual criticism. Our aim is to accept or reject work within three months – but please read, and follow, the submission guidelines below, in order to facilitate our response.

More Information here:

Deadline: Ongoing

The Dublin Review

The Dublin Review welcomes submissions of fiction and non-fiction previously unpublished in the English language. We do not accept poetry submissions. We especially encourage submissions from members of groups traditionally underrepresented in literary magazines and other cultural forums.

More Information here: