Competitions and submissions

February 27, 2026

Poetry in Motion Anthology Submissions

Poetry in Motion Community invites submissions from writers aged 18 and over who are resident in Northern Ireland, including those at early or emerging stages of their practice. Submissions to the anthology are also considered for the Seamus Heaney Awards for New Writing, which recognise outstanding new work by local poetic voices.

More Information here:

February 28, 2026

Submissions Call for Edition VI of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal

Smashing Times International Centre for the Arts and Equality would like to invite submissions to the Edition VI of Tintreach: The Smashing Times Arts and Literary Journal, which will be published on Thursday, 16 April 2026.

Tintreach publishes creative work from across the artistic spectrum. Submissions are open until we reach capacity, or until midnight on Saturday, 28 February 2026 – whichever comes first. This edition is unthemed. Successful artists will receive a small fee.

More Information here:

February 28, 2026

Three Pillars Press Poetry Pamphlet Award

Three Pillars Press publishes poetry pamphlets from emerging poets currently living in Ireland or with Irish heritage. Each pamphlet consists of 20-25 pages of poetry. Poets will not have published a full collection before publication by Three Pillars Press. We are looking for new and innovative approaches to both theme and form. We believe that a proactive approach to diversity and inclusivity is important. As such, we strongly encourage submissions by writers from every background, and especially encourage those from underrepresented areas of society to submit their work for consideration.

More Information here:

February 28, 2026

Metachrosis Submissions

Metachrosis literary magazine is an online publication that strives to be the place where the foundations of the world around us are explored and celebrated. Created as part of the Art, Science, and Visual Thinking MFA at Dundee University, this magazine is open to all forms of writing, art, and Hybrid work, whether creative or factual.

More Information here:

February 28, 2026

Fish Publishing Flash Fiction Prize

Fish Publishing has announced the Flash Fiction Prize 2026! 300 word limit, judged by Tania Hershman. Results will be announced April 18, 2026. Entry Fees: €16 / €11 subsequent entries (Optional Critique €45).

Prizes: Top ten stories will be published in the FISH ANTHOLOGY 2026. 1st: €1,000, 2nd: Online Writing Course + €300, 3rd: €300

More Information here:

February 28, 2026

Poetry Ireland Review Submissions

Poetry Ireland Review is published three times annually. We welcome unsolicited submissions of poems, and proposals for articles and interviews, from Ireland and abroad, in Irish or English. We actively encourage submissions from people from diverse ethnic backgrounds, who are currently under-represented in the submissions we receive throughout the year.

More Information here:

February 28, 2026

Southword: Journal of New International Writing – Fiction Submissions Open

Southword pays contributors €50 per poem and €300 per short story and welcomes submissions of up to four poems or one short story (of up to 5000 words) per submission period. If your work has been published in Southword before, you please don’t submit again for at least one year after publication. The poetry editor is Patrick Cotter. The fiction editor is Billy O’Callaghan. Subscriber competitions are judged by James O’Leary.

More Information here:

March 2, 2026

Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize

We are looking for original short fiction, between 1,000-3,500 words, from writers that have not been previously published. Entry to the competition is £10.00 per story. There are a limited amount of free spaces for writers on a low income, please email enquiries@bricklanebookshop.org to request one of these – they will be granted on a first come basis. First Prize is £1,000, 2nd Prize is £500, and 3rd Prize is £250. The twelve shortlisted stories will feature in the Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize 2026 anthology. Prizes will also be awared to some of our shortlisted writers, selected by our prize partners.

More Information here:

March 7, 2026

Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Competition

The Desmond O’Grady International Poetry Competition was inaugurated in 2012 by the late Barney Sheehan – poetry impresario of the White House Poetry Revival, in honour of the late Limerick poet Desmond O’Grady, who died in 2014. The Limerick Writers’ Centre now runs the competition as part of April is Poetry Month in Limerick festival. The prize winner of this year’s competition will be announced during April 2026 and will be invited to give a reading of his/her work during the 2027 festival. First Prize 200.00 Euro, Runner-Up Prize 50.00 Euro.

More Information here:

March 11. 2026

Mairtín Crawford Awards for Poetry and Short Story 2026

We are delighted to announce that the submission window for the 2026 Awards is now open. The Awards are aimed at writers working towards their first full collection of poetry, short stories, or a novel. Both published and unpublished writers are invited to submit between 3-5 poems for the poetry award, and a short story of up to 2,500 words for the short story award, with the only stipulation being that they have not yet published a full collection of poetry, short stories, or a novel. The Winner of each Award will receive a £500 cash Prize. In addition, each Winner can take up time a ‘Time to Write’ package which includes a 3-night stay at a Hotel in Belfast, and 4 days of dedicated writing space in The Crescent. Two Runners Up for each Category will receive a £250 cash prize. Placed entrants will be announced at a special event during the Belfast Belfast Book Festival 2026.

More Information here:

March 13. 2026

The London Magazine Poetry Prize 2026

Established to encourage emerging literary talent, the award provides an opportunity for publication and recognition. While there is no criteria as to theme, form or style, judges are looking for resonant and accomplished work. Poems must be previously unpublished and no longer than 40 lines. Submissions are open for international entries. All three prize winners will appear in a print issue of The London Magazine. Prize winners will also receive cash prizes, and will be celebrated at a prize-giving event in the summer.

More Information here:

March 15, 2026

Profiles Journal Call for Submissions

Profiles Journal are now accepting submissions of fiction, non-fiction, and visual art for Issue 5.

More Information here:

March 21, 2026

David Whyte Poet in Residence Award at Burren College of Art

Burren College of Art is pleased to announce that the Poet -in-Residence Award has been renewed in 2026, made possible through a generous donation by renowned poet, David Whyte.  The award offers a four-week residency for a poet of official residency in Ireland, for the dates of August 31-September 25, 2026.

The aim of this award is to support a poet at any stage of their careers by giving them the time, space, and inspiration to develop their work in the unique environment of the Burren, and the creative community of the College. The recipient will have the opportunity to work alongside students and artists-in-residence, and will put on a reading to which the local community will be invited.

The award also provides accommodation in campus housing, which includes a private room in shared, self-catering housing.  Additionally, the awardee will receive a 5000 Euro bursary.

More Information here:

March 31, 2026

Fish Publishing Poetry Prize 2026

Fish Publishing has announced their Poetry Prize 2026! 60 line limit, judged by Billy Collins. Results will be announced May 15, 2026. Entry Fees: €16 / €11 subsequent entries. (Optional Critique €45)

Prizes: Top 10 poems will be published in the FISH ANTHOLOGY 2026, 1st prize: €1,000, 2nd: Fish Writing Course + €300, 3rd: €300.

More Information here:

March 31, 2026

Wild Atlantic Writing Awards

‘Power,’ the theme for our new competition. Power itself comes in many shapes and forms. Some for good, some for evil, some in-between. Why don’t you now put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboards) and knock out a story on the theme of ‘power’ that will knock our socks off. Stories should be no more than 500 words and the word ‘power’ cannot be used in your story title or in the story itself. Winners in each category will receive 500 euro in cash, or 1,000 euro off any of our writing retreats in 2025 or 2026.

More Information here:

April 1, 2026

Belfast Review Submissions

More information will be made available before the submissions window opens.

More Information here:

April 1. 2026

Rialto Nature and Place Competition

Poems are invited that deal with any aspect of nature and place – these terms will be given a wide interpretation by the judge Mona Arshi. PRIZES: 1st Prize £1000, 2nd Prize £500, 3rd Prize £250.

More Information here:

April 5, 2026

Fish Publishing Haiku Prize 2026

Fish Publishing has announced their Haiku Prize 2026! 20 word limit, judged by Mary-Jane Holmes. Results will be announced April 25, 2026. Entry Fees: €5

Prizes: The 10 winning Haiku will be published in the Fish Anthology 2026. The 10 winners will each be awarded £100.

More Information here:

May 1, 2026

Alpine Fellowship Writing & Poetry Prizes

Awarded for the best piece of writing on the theme of JOY. Prizes up to £3,00 across various genres.

More Information here:

May 15, 2026

New Theatre Writing Development Week

Following the success of our New Writing event in 2025, our now annual New Writing Development Week will take place in 2026. We are seeking new play writing voices for inclusion in a series of performed readings. These will take place on The New Theatre stage. These new play readings will be read live by professional actors to a live audience. Post reading audience engagement will be encouraged.

More Information here:

May 20, 2026

Stinging Fly Submissions

We are next open for submissions of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry from the 6th to the 20th of May 2026. This will be for our Winter 2026-27 issue. We publish new, previously unpublished work by Irish and international writers. We have a particular interest in promoting new writers, and in promoting the short story form. Each issue of The Stinging Fly includes a mix of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, alongside our Featured Poets and Comhchealg sections, occasional author interviews and novel extracts. We also welcome submissions of poetry and prose in translation.

More Information here:

May 31, 2026

The Bridport Prizes

We are committed to discovering new writers in poetry, short story, flash fiction, the novel and memoir. Our alumni reads like a Who’s Who of the literary world: Kate Atkinson MBE, Gail Honeyman and Kit de Waal. Judges have included Roger McGough, Monica Ali and Zoe Heller. Our patron is Kit de Waal. We are a route to being published so send us your words and it could be your name up here next year.

More Information here:

May 31, 2026

The Bath Novel Award

The Bath Novel Award 2026 is a £5,000 international prize for adult and YA novels of every genre. The prize is open to unagented writers, who are unpublished, self-published or independently published without advance. Submissions are invited from 1st December 2025 to 31st May 2026 and we welcome writers of every age, gender, nationality and residency.

More Information here:

June 10, 2026

Words by the Sea Open Mic

This Open Mic event will take place at Walters Pub, Dun Laoghaire, on the second Wednesday of the month until 10 June 2026. Sign up from 6.45 and start at 7pm. Readers will have a maximum of 5 minutes each which could be a few short poems or your own songs, spoken word or one longer piece or flash fiction, about 800 words of prose.

More Information here:

August 31, 2026

Aesthetica Creative Writing Award

The Award was launched after the publication of Aesthetica Magazine, as a way to support the next generation of literary talent. These were first published in the Creative Works Annual, a collection celebrating innovative poetry and short fiction from both established and emerging practitioners. Originally, it was an anthology of new writing and new artwork. However, as the Aesthetica Creative Writing Award and the Art Prize started to reach more audiences, the decision was made in 2013 to separate them into two Awards with their own prizes and publications.

More Information here:

November 1, 2026

The Scribble Annual Short Story Competition

2026 Theme: ‘A SLICE OF LUCK’. Maximum length: 3000 words. Prizes: £100.00; £50.00; £25.00. Entry fee: £5.00. Free unlimited entries for annual subscribers. The winning entry will be published in the winter 2026 edition of Scribble, published during December.

More Information here:

Ongoing

The Scribble Quarterly Short Story Competitions

Short stories on any subject. Max. 3000 words. Entry fee £5.00. Prizes of £75.00, £25.00, and £15.00 for the best three stories in each issue of Scribble, as chosen by the readers. Email entries to submissions@btinternet.com.

More Information here:

Deadline: Ongoing

The Dublin Review

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

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 publishes 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 reportage/journalism.

More Information here:

Deadline: Ongoing

The London Magazine

The London Magazine (est. 1732) is now accepting pitches for essays, reviews and interviews on an ongoing basis. This from the editors: ‘We’re looking for clear, engaging writing that connects literature to wider culture or brings fresh perspectives to books, art and ideas. Please read our submission guidelines before sending pitches to pitches@thelondonmagazine.org.’

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. The editors 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.

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: