Competitions and submissions

June 30, 2026

Drumshanbo Written Word Poetry Film Competition

Drumshanbo County Leitrim, Ireland, hosts an annual literary festival bringing together some of Irelands finest writers and poets to celebrate the written word. As part of this we host an annual Poetry Film competition open to filmmakers and poets from everywhere. Each year the festival hosts an evening where they screen the shortlisted films as part of the opening ceremony. Send your entries and join them in this beautiful Lakelands town in August

The judge this year will be Csilla Toldy, Award winning poet and filmmaker from Rostrevor, Co.Down.

First Prize €500 will be awarded to the best poetry film on Friday 21st August after the shortlist screening.

More Information here:

30 June 2026

Frazzled Lit Short Story Award

The Frazzled Lit Short Story Award will be judged by international award-winning author Donal Ryan. Prizes are as follows: 1st prize: € 1,000, 2nd prize: € 500, 3rd prize: € 300. Stories must be between 750 and 2,000 words, excluding title.

More Information here:

30 June 2026

Fiction Factory Short Story Competition

Top prize- £500. Length of story: max 3,000 words Entries should be as a Word document. All types of stories are welcome (excluding Children’s and Young Adult Fiction). Entry Fee: £7.00 (£13 for 2 stories, £18 for 3 stories)Entry fee plus optional critique: £35.00

Winning stories will be published on this website and, at a later date in a planned anthology

More Information here:

June 30, 2026

Southword Creative Non-Fiction Award

We are looking for compelling writing, as memoir or as innovative essays or as an admixture of both. Simon Van Booy, Sandra Beasley, Thomas Lynch, Kim Addonizio & Yoko Tawada have all published creative non-fiction in Southword, why not join that illustrious company? Entrants may submit more than one entry. Once entered, no alterations can be made to the submission. Simultaneous submissions are accepted but please notify us immediately should your work be accepted elsewhere. Multiple submissions are allowed and entries must be previously unpublished. First prize: €1000.

More Information here:

July 1, 2026

Magma Open Poetry Pamphlet Competition 2026

MAGMA invites you to enter their fifth pamphlet competition, now open for entries. They are delighted to have Marjorie Lotfi as judge.

PRIZE: publication of the winning pamphlet + launch reading.

Poets on the shortlist of 10 will each get a paragraph of feedback from the judge. The winner and 3 others will have a poem published in Magma. All shortlisted poets will have a poem published on our website.

Marjorie Lotfi will read 50 entries selected by Magma board members.

More Information here:

July 3, 2026

BVIFF 2026 Shane Meadows Short Film Bursary

Boyne Valley International Film Festival is accepting submissions for the BVIFF 2026 Shane Meadows Short Film Bursary.

BVIFF are now inviting screenwriters to pitch a short film idea by email, no longer than 2 pages.

The overall winner will receive a further bursary of €2,500 and will be provided with mentorship and free studio/office space for 6 months in Barlow House to write and develop their screenplay

More Information here:

July 3, 2026

Hubert Butler Essay Prize

The Hubert Butler Essay Prize is intended to encourage the art of essay-writing with a European dimension and to expand interest in Butler’s work. There is a prize sponsored by Haus Publishing of €2,500. The author must be over 18 and be a UK or European Union citizen. Essays submitted should be in English and of no more than 3,000 words in length (inclusive of quotations).

More Information here:

July 31, 2026

Seán Ó Faoláin International Short Story Competition

The competition is open to original, unpublished and unbroadcast short stories in the English language of 3,000 words or fewer. The story can be on any subject, in any style, by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. Translated work is not in the scope of this competition. Entrants may submit more than one entry. Once entered, no alterations can be made to the submission. Simultaneous submissions are accepted but please notify us immediately should your work be accepted elsewhere. First prize: €2,000, Featured reading at the Cork International Short Story Festival (with four-night hotel stay and full board), Publication in Southword

More Information here:

August 14 2026, 10am

Waterford Poetry Prize

The Arts Office, Waterford City & County Council is pleased to announce that entries are now being accepted for the Waterford Poetry Prize 2026. This competition is open to all writers currently living on the island of Ireland. This prize has emerged from the influence of the late Waterford writer Seán Dunne whose poetry continues to inspire.

The winners of the Waterford Poetry Prize 2026 will be announced at the closing event of the Waterford Writers Weekend on Sunday 25th October 2026. This year the Arts Office is pleased to welcome back the poet, essayist and librettist, Jessica Traynor as adjudicator.

There is no age limit and no entry fee for the Waterford Poetry Prize 2026. The first prize is €600. Second prize is €400 and third prize is €300. The closing date for receipt of entries is Friday 14th August 2026 at 10am.

More Information here:

August 28, 2026

Samhain Harvest Call for Poetry Submissions

Poets may submit up to three poems of no more than 40 lines per poem, with a theme to  suit Samhain, Halloween, autumn, folklore, solstice, ghostly, haunting, harvest, otherworldly, etc. Poems must be written in English and typed in Times New Roman 12pt and  as a Word doc (see note below re: sizing). National and international submissions

welcome. Entrants 18+. Please include an author biography of a maximum of 50 words, written in 3rd person.

If you are submitting more than one poem, ensure that each poem is on  a separate page, although you may submit all 3 poems in a single document.

The anthology will be published in A5 format, so you may like to pay attention to page sizing when composing your poems. Please submit as an A5-sized Word doc if possible, as this will

help ensure the poem’s layout is as you intend.

Unfortunately, Spilled Ink are not in a position to pay successful poets but those whose poems are chosen will be invited to the launch of the anthology in Longford in October, and will receive one copy of the book, by collection. (Please note, we will NOT be able to post books; you may arrange for someone to collect on your behalf.) Selected poets will also be invited to  read during the launch. Copyright will remain with individual authors.

Submission does not guarantee inclusion in the anthology. Please submit your poems, bio, and contact information to: submissions@overspilledink.com

with ‘SAMHAIN SUBMISSION’ in the subject line.

August 31, 2026

Munster Literature Centre Fool for Poetry International Chapbook Competition

The competition is open to new, emerging and established poets from any country. At least one of these winners will be the highest scoring manuscript entered by a poet with no solo collection (full-length or chapbook) previously published. The other winner may have previously published poetry books. Up to 25 other entrants will be publicly listed as “highly commended”. 1st Prize: €1000, Chapbook publication and 25 complimentary copies, Featured reading at the Cork International Poetry Festival (with three-night hotel stay and full board)

More Information here:

August 31, 2026

Witty Writers Wicklow Contest 2026

The Witty Wicklow Writers contest is open internationally and welcomes submissions in: Poetry, Short Fiction, Creative Non-Fiction / Memoir.

Prizes:

First Place

• Publication in Witty Wicklow Writers Magazine – Issue 1

• Complimentary paperback edition

• Featured interview on the Ring of Culture Podcast

Second Place

• Publication in the magazine

• Complimentary paperback edition

• Complimentary e-book edition

Third Place

• Publication in the magazine

• Complimentary paperback edition

• Complimentary e-book edition

Highly Commended (Top 10)

• Publication in the magazine

• Complimentary e-book edition

Key Details:

• Submission Deadline: 31 August 2026

• Entry Fee: €7 Early Bird / €9 Standard Entry

• Judge: Vitor Vicente

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:

August 31, 2026

Anthology Personal Memoir Competition 2026

The Anthology Personal Memoir Competition is open to original and previously unpublished memoirs in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. In the spirit of authenticity, there are no constraints on themes or writing styles. Memoirs submitted must not exceed a maximum of 1,500 words. Writers can submit as many entries as they wish. Each submission will require a separate entry form and is subject to a separate entry fee.

More Information here:

21 August 2026

Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival Poetry Competition

Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival is delighted to announce its 2026 Poetry Competition is open for submissions. This year, the theme of the competition is New World.

Five shortlisted poets will be invited to read their entries at the Letterkenny Cathedral Quarter Literary Festival on Saturday 17th October when the overall winner will be announced.

The judge this year is Deirdre Hines. Deirdre is an award-winning poet and author of The Language of Coats (New Island) which includes her Listowel Prize-winning collection, and The Mermelf: A Fable for Our Times (Austin Macauley Publishers), runner-up in the the London Book Festival 2024. Her Japanese Poetry Workbook: Master Haiku, Tanka, Renku, Haibun & more with prompts, is an Amazon Top 50 bestseller.

The Festival Committee wish to thank Brennan’s Pharmacy and Donegal ETB for sponsoring our main prizes.

The winner will receive €150 and the runner-up €100.

Three highly commended entries will receive cash prizes.

The closing date for entries is Friday 21st August. Results will be announced by the end of September.

More Information here:

September 1, 2026

The Barbellion Prize

Any full-length work of fiction or non-fiction, excluding poetry, originally written in English or translated into English and available in published form by a writer who is chronically ill or disabled or who has dealt personally and directly with illness or disability, is eligible for submission and the judge’s consideration..

More Information here:

September 30, 2026, 5pm.

Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition

The Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2026 is open for entries.

The deadline for receipt of all entries is September 30th, 2026, at 5 pm (GMT). Entries will only be accepted through Subfolio. Entries can be on any subject, theme or genre.

Entry fee: £12 per entry. You can submit multiple entries as long as each entry is paid for individually and includes a separate entry form.

Maximum word count is 3,000 words.

All entries are judged anonymously. Please do not include your name, address, phone number, email, website, social media details, etc. on the short story document or in the file name as this will result in disqualification.

More Information here:

September 30, 2026

Southword Editor’s Poetry Award

Each entrant for their €24 entry fee will receive a complimentary postage-free, one-year subscription to Southword. Poems will be read and judged anonymously. Poems must be previously unpublished. The winning poet will have their three poems published in Southword. If you are already a subscriber, your subscription will be extended. Once a subscriber, there is the opportunity to enter, for free, other competitions which are for subscribers only. Prize: €1000.

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: