8 New Agents and a New Literary Agency Actively Seeking Cookbooks, Memoir, Women's Fiction, LGBT, Horror, Romance and more

Here are eight new literary agents and a new agency actively seeking clients. New agents and agencies are a boon to writers. They are actively building their lists, and will go the extra mile for their clients. All of these agents work for established agencies with good track records. They are looking for all genres.

Always check the agency website and agent bio before submitting. Agents can switch agencies or close their lists, and submission requirements can change. 

NOTE: Don't submit to several agents at the same agency simultaneously. If one rejects you, you may then submit to another. (Some small agencies share. Be alert to a notice that "a no from one is a no from all.")

You can find a full list of agents actively seeking new clients here: Agents Seeking Clients.

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Ms. Sharmaine Lovegrove of International Creative Agency (UK)

Sharmaine Lovegrove is a literary agent and cultural activist based in Berlin, with two decades of experience across publishing, bookselling, strategic cultural consultancy, and media. She was formerly the Managing Director of Dialogue, a division of Hachette UK, where she championed underrepresented voices and published acclaimed and bestselling authors including Brit Bennett, Liv Little, Lisa Ko, Tina Knowles, Clint Smith, Irenosen Okojie, Zaina Arafat, Theresia Enzensberger, Okechukwu Nzelu, and Jeffrey Boakye.

What she is seeking: At ICA, Sharmaine is actively building a list of fiction and non-fiction with international ambition, seeking distinctive voices, emotional resonance, and stories that broaden how we see the world. She is looking for literary and upmarket commercial fiction — novels and short story collections that are character-driven, emotionally rich, and often international in perspective. She is drawn to novels of love and relationships, whether familial, platonic, or romantic, that balance commercial reach with literary ambition. She is also seeking fiction that reimagines or disrupts dominant narratives, recasting history, myth, and perspective through fresh voices. In non-fiction, Sharmaine is interested in expert-led works on culture, politics, and society with narrative drive, as well as bold memoirs that move beyond the personal to spark wider cultural conversations.

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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V Ruiz of D4EO Literary Agency

V. Ruiz is a Lesbian, Mexican-American agent, editor, and author, who aspires to make publishing more equitable by working as an advocate for their authors. With nearly ten years of editing experience across literary and commercial genres, they consider themselves an editorial and career agent. V. wants to work with authors who are eager to work on multiple projects and who are open to editorial guidance and feedback. Recently, they worked as an acquisitions editor and project manager with Row House Publishing (distributed by Simon and Schuster) for over three years. While at RH, they also oversaw production, project schedules, contributed to design, and marketing. You can rest assured that they have a deep understanding of the publishing process which in turn, helps their authors feel prepared with what to expect. V. is always eager to hear from voices who have been systemically underrepresented in publishing.

They have worked on over 25 titles as an editor. Aside from editing, they have previously ghostwritten nonfiction and fiction titles (over 15) in topics ranging from finance to small town romance. They also hold an MFA and BA in English and Creative Writing.

When V. isn’t writing or reading, they are studying astrology, playing video games, or trekking across the world to scream their heart out at a concert.

What they are seeking: I am primarily interested in fiction for adults and teens. I am also open to seeing nonfiction if it’s spiritual or esoteric in nature, a cookbook proposal, and/or very select memoir projects. I’m especially focused on fantasy, horror and thrillers, women’s fiction, and romance. I love championing BIPOC, Disabled, and LGBTQ+ voices.  
 

How to submit: Use their querytracker form HERE.

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Jillian Schelzi of HG Literary

Jillian graduated from Trinity College in Hartford, CT with a BS in Mathematics. After working for years in Finance at a consulting firm in Boston, Jillian realized her passion did not lie within excel sheets, and she set off to pursue a new dream. She moved to New York City to attend NYU and obtained her MS in Publishing: Digital and Print Media. Her first role in publishing was as an intern for HG Literary in 2023. She also provided contract work for Gina Protano of GGP Publishing (whom she met by chance in Barnes & Noble). Upon graduating NYU, she returned full time to HG Literary as an assistant to Josh Getzler. 

She is thrilled to now be open to queries herself!

What she is seeking: Jillian loves a novel that is going to make her feel deeply, whether that is devastating sorrow or profound joy. She is primarily looking for adult fiction and is specifically interested in thrillers, particularly anything psychological (or anything with a shocking twist!) with page turning suspense. She is also drawn to rich historical fiction set against the backdrop of war. She also loves any book that includes representation of mental illness and is not afraid of novels that include darker, more challenging themes. She is open to novels that skew literary and upmarket, as well as anything Book Club.

For YA, Jillian is only considering YA romance at this time.

Jillian is not looking for middle grade, picture books, religious books, fantasy/romantasy, or horror at this time. 

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Ms. Corissa Hollenbeck of Janklow and Nesbit Ltd (UK)

Corissa Hollenbeck grew up in Massachusetts and attended Phillips Academy Andover, King’s College London, the University of Freiburg, and the Columbia Publishing Course. She has worked at VICE, Marie Claire, and The Guardian. Corissa has worked with a broad range of prize-winning and bestselling authors whilst assisting literary agent and Managing Director Will Francis.

What she is seeking: Corissa is actively building her list and is looking to hear from researchers, journalists, historians, academics, nature and culture writers. She is interested in writers who can help readers see the world differently, or experts who are keen to find a mainstream audience for their ideas and writing.

How to submit: Follow agency guidelines HERE.

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Justina Ireland of Handspun Literary Agency

Justina joined Handspun in 2026 as a junior agent. She is also an award winning and New York Times bestselling author of numerous books as well as a writer of both comics and television. She is a United States Army Veteran and holds a BA in History from Georgia Southern (previously Armstrong Atlantic State University) and an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University.

What she is seeking:She loves meticulous worldbuilding and complicated characters and is currently looking for well executed speculative fiction in most categories. She is drawn to Middle Grade and Young Adult that asks complicated questions without talking down to a reader and adult books that skew a little offbeat–Bitter Karella’s Moon Flow and Sarah Gailey’s Spread Me are recent examples.

Justina does not accept non-fiction, picture books, romantasy, contemporary, or previously self-published works.

Writers from historically marginalized backgrounds are strongly encouraged to submit.

How to submit: Follow the agency guidelines HERE. (Scroll down)

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Ms. Claudia Cramer of Olswanger Literary

Claudia Cramer is a literary associate at Olswanger Literary. After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English, she started her career in publishing by writing and editing for Coffee House Writers. She recently joined Olswanger Literary as a Literary Associate. 

What she is seeking: Claudia is actively seeking fiction and nonfiction projects with cross-genre appeal and strong audience potential. In fiction, she is interested in romance, historical fiction, family sagas, mystery, low fantasy, and book club reads. For nonfiction, she welcomes cookbooks, science, nature, history, and popular culture. She's especially enthusiastic about stories centered on Latino characters by Latino authors.

How to submit: Please submit your queries to my email at claudia@olswangerliterary.com

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Ms. Lindsay Watson of Ethan Ellenberg Literary Agency

Lindsay Watson joined the agency in 2024. She manages the subsidiary rights department, and is currently building her list in Middle Grade, Young Adult, and Adult fiction. For Young Adult and Middle Grade, she is looking for fantasy, sci-fi, and speculative fiction. In Adult Fiction, Lindsay is interested in paranormal romance and romantasy (including LGBTQ+), and psychological thrillers.

What she is seeking: Lindsay enjoys immersive world-building, good banter, spooky vibes, and shocking plot twists. As her focus is subsidiary rights, she frequently works with indie authors who are expanding their subrights and translation portfolio, and pursuing a hybrid publishing career.

How to submit: Follow the agency guidelines HERE.

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Madelyn Knecht of Storm Literary Agency

Madelyn is an editor, writer, and passionate reader from Texas whose hair changes color on a weekly basis. After falling in love with reading books that made her laugh and cry in equal measure, she started writing her first book at nine and never looked back. She serves as a RevPit board member, where she created the BIPOC Editor Mentorship, and a member of the EFA. When not reading or writing, you can find her playing cozy games like Rune Factory and Stardew Valley, crocheting, picking up a new hobby, or spending time with her two criminal Australian Shepherds and her lovable cat, Lucas.

What she is seeking: Age Groups: Adult, Young Adult, select Middle Grade. Genres: Fantasy (all subgenres), scifi, speculative, horror, mystery

How to submit: Use her querytracker form HERE.

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Keystone Literary Agency

With 20 years of industry experience, as both an editor and an agent, Lindsay Guzzardo brings a hands-on, career-focused approach to representation. In 2025, she founded Keystone Literary Agency in the Keystone State. The word “keystone” is also a nod to the role an agent serves, fortifying the bridge between author and publisher, leading to our motto: “Keystone Literary Agency: Connecting Great Books with the World.”

Lindsay is drawn to high-concept, commercial premises well told and will consider adult fiction and narrative nonfiction with a clear, marketable, compelling hook, and strong voice. Her personal tastes align with the following:

Fiction:

• Retellings of classic stories (either modern retellings or classic stories told from a different character’s perspective)
• Beach reads
• Fiction exploring family dynamics and relationships (particularly mothers/daughters and sisters)
• Amish romance/fiction
• Wholesome, clean fiction and romance
• Cozy, charming, small-town romance/fiction
• Rich, evocative historical fiction
• Fiction featuring historical figures
• European-set fiction, any era and tone
• Dark psychological and domestic suspense
• Family dramas that interweave past and present

Nonfiction proposals welcome from journalists and field experts in:

• History
• Biography
• Science
• Sports
• Narrative nonfiction
• Memoirs (must have a strong platform)

Note: Lindsay accepts submissions the first week of the month. Please submit via Query Manager.

72 Calls for Submissions in February 2026 - Paying markets

This February there are six dozen calls for submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. As always, every genre, style, and form is wanted, from short stories to poetry to essays.

I post upcoming calls for submissions shortly before the first day of every month. But as I am collecting them, I post them on my page, Calls for Submissions. You can get a jump on next month's calls for submissions by checking that page periodically throughout the month. (I only post paying markets.)

Also see Paying Markets for hundreds of paying markets arranged by form and genre.

[Image: Pickpik]

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Slush. Genre: Previously unpublished short stories of up to 5000 words in length. This includes micro and flash fiction as well as comics, prose poetry and other forms. Payment: $100 AU. Deadline: February 1, 2026. 

Rotting Leaf Mag. Genre: Eco-fiction, all genres. Payment: $0.06/word ($30 minimum) + contributor copy of annual anthology. Length: 1500 words max. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.

Electric Lit: The Commuter. Genre: Poetry, flash, graphic, and experimental narratives. Payment: $100. Deadline: February 1, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

The Paris Review. Genres: Prose. Payment: Not specified. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.

Yellow Arrow Journal. Genre: Creative nonfiction, poetry, cover art by authors who identify as women. Payment: $10. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2026.

Flash Fiction Online. Genre: Flash fiction. Payment: $40. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2026.

Nightlight (Podcast). Restrictions: At least one of your birth parents must be Black. Genre: Horror. Flash fiction (750-1,500 words), Short stories (up to 3,000). Payment: 5 cents/word for flash, $200 for short stories, $50 for reprnts.. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Okay Donkey. Genre: One flash fiction OR one poem per author, per submission period. See website for details. Payment: $20. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

The Forge Literary Magazine. Genre: Prose. They prefer stories under 3,000 words. Payment: $100. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2026. Free submissions open on the 1st of each month and close when cap is reached. 

Fantastic Voyages. Genre: Fantasy. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: February 1, 2026. 

The First Line Journal. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry using the line provided. (See theme) Payment: $25-50 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction, $10 for poetry. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Curated by Costiuc. Genre: Mysteries and crime stories. Length: 1,000 to 5,000 words. Payment: $25. Deadline: February 1, 2026. 

June Road Press. Genre: Poetry. "This anthology will be loosely organized as a cross-country road trip: a tour of new voices from different regions of the United States. In keeping with the spirit and orientation of our full-length collections, we’re particularly interested in work that engages in meaningful ways with nature or place—the more specifically place-based or regionally inflected, the better suited to this project." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Breath and Shadow  Restrictions: Open to disabled writers. Genre: Writing on any topic for poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and drama; these pieces do not have to be "about" disability. However nonfiction, academic, and similar articles (profiles, interviews, opinion pieces) do have to relate to disability in some way. Payment: $25 for poetry, $40 for fiction, and $40 for nonfiction. In addition to publication and payment, Breath & Shadow will post links to contributors' work on other sites and to their Web site or e-mail address. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Nightmare. Genre: Dark fiction, CNF, poetry. Payment: $0.08/word for fiction, $40 for CNF and poetry. Deadline: February 1, 2026. 

Wyldblood Press (UK) Genre: Short speculative fiction. Length: 5000 words max. Payment: £0.01 cent/word. Deadline: Opens February 1, 2026.

White Stag is looking for full length poetry manuscripts in the scope of their thematic elements, which can include themes of alchemy & the occult, mysticism & spirituality, folklore & mythos, the speculative or supranatural, or intersections of witchcraft & activism. These themes are not limited to any specific belief, culture, race, or region. Read guidelines here. Payment: $50 honorarium, 40% royalties based on total profit of each copy sold. Deadline: February 1, 2026. Note: US authors only.

Ecotone. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Payment: $100 minimum. Deadline: Opens February 2, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

Acquired Tastes Anthology. Genre: short fiction or essays celebrating unlikeable characters, from young adults, ages 15-21. Length: Up to 5,000 words. Payment: $1,000. Deadline: February 2, 2026.

Stone’s Throw. Genre: "We're looking for dark fiction, crime and noir, length between 1,000 and 2,000 words." Payment: $25. Deadline: February 4, 2026. Open to submissions the first three days of every month.

Adventitious. Genre: Speculative, surreal, and literary fiction. Length: Flash Fiction (including Micro): Up to 1,000 words; Fiction: 1,000 – 6,000 words. Novelette: 6,000 – 17,000 words. Payment: $0.08 USD per word. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

Chortle. Genre: Short humor pieces (700 words or fewer) with a funny, unique POV on romance, dating, love, or relationships. Payment: $100. Deadline: February 6, 2026.

Abyss and Apex. Genre: Speculative fiction. No horror. Payment: USD $.08/word (eight cents a word) up to 1,000 words, and a flat payment of $80.00 for longer stories. Deadline: February 7, 2026.

Little Somethings Press: Motherhood Anthology. Genre: Poetry, prose, and art centered on motherhood — the joy and the trauma. Poetry should be under one page, and prose under 500 words. Payment: $40. Deadline: February 7, 2026.

Cursed Morsels Press Zine. Genre: Horror. 500 words max. See prompts. Payment: 10 cents/word. Deadline: February 7, 2026.

Black Inc. Restrictions: Australian writers only. Genre: Full-length general and commercial non-fiction – including history, current affairs, sports, and biography. Read their submission guidelines here. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 7, 2026.

The Suburban Review. Genre: Prose, art, poetry. See theme. Payment: AUD300-450 for prose; AUD300-550 for poetry; comics and art AUD200-300. Deadline: February 8, 2026.

Sparks. Restrictions: Open to residents on the island of Ireland. Genre: Prose and poetry. Payment: €20 for a Short Story, €15 for Flash Fiction and €10 for a Poem. Deadline: February 9, 2026.

 

Sci Phi Journal. Genre: Hard science fiction, fictional nonfiction, and speculative philosophy. Translations accepted. Payment: €0.03/word; €0.01/word for translations. Deadline: February 12, 2026.

Ecotone. Genre: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction that engages with the climate crisis. Payment: $100 minimum. Deadline: Opens February 13, 2026. Open for one day only.

The Phantom Pulse. Genre: Traditional horror, sci-fi horror, dark fantasy, and the weird. We have diverse reading tastes and are open to experimental forms and stories. Payment: $0.03 per word for unpublished fiction and $0.01 per word for reprints. Deadline: February 14, 2026. Accepts reprints.

In a Flash. Genre: Flash fiction, 500 words max. See theme. Payment: $25. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Black Beacon Books: Novelettes. Genre: Mysteries. Length: 9,000 - 25,000 words. Payment: $50.  Deadline: February 15, 2026.

The Lorelei Signal. Genre: Fantasy short stories, flash fiction, and poetry with strong female characters. Payment: $15 for short stories, $5 for poems and flash (<1000 wds) fiction pieces, $5 for reprints. Deadline: February 15, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Luna Station Quarterly. Restrictions: Open to women writers only. Genre: Speculative fiction. Payment: $10. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Flame Tree: Vampires. Genre: Fiction about vampires. Length: 2,000-4,000 words. Payment: 8 cents/word. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Griffith Review. Poetry. Nonfiction and fiction. See theme. Payment: $200. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Smokelong. Genre: Flash narrative up to 1000 words. They are looking for prose that is troubling, that explores our darkest fears. Payment: $100/$150 with audio, upon publication. Deadline: February 15, 2026. Free submissions end when cap is reached.

100-Foot Crow. Genre: Speculative fiction drabbles. See theme. Payment: $8. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Slab Press: Obsidian. Genre: Space Horror. Payment: 1p a word to a maximum of £100. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

The Rebis. Genre: Original writing, artwork, and any other form of creative expression that you dream up inspired by the 18th card of the Major Arcana. Payment: $100 - $200. Deadline: February 17, 2026.

Fission is the British Science Fiction Association's annual anthology of SFF fiction. You don’t need to be a BSFA member to submit. Genre: Science fiction. Length: Up to 5,000 words. Payment: 2 pence per word. Deadline: February 27, 2026.

Raconteur Press: Auntie Heroes. Genre: Short stories. Insane cat lady fights bad guys and solves crime! Golden Girls vs Cthulhu! Betty White saves the day! Stories of aunties in dynamic, exciting adventures. Little old grannies living in cozy urban fantasy worlds, with buckshot. These heroes aren’t your run-of-the-mill saviors—they’re Auntie Heroes. 5,000 to 8,000 words. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 27, 2026.

New Orleans Review. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: $300 for prose, $100 for poetry. Deadline: February 28, 2026. In celebration of Black History Month, there are no submission fees for Black writers for the month of February.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Year's. Genre: True stories and poems. "Please submit your true stories and poems about the entire December holiday season, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, and New Year’s festivities too." Payment: $200. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Giramondo. Genre: Full-length fiction, nonfiction, and poetry manuscripts. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

In Another Time. Genre: Speculative fiction and nonfiction. Payment: $0.01/word for fiction, $5 for poetry up to 500 words. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Clare Songbirds. Genre: Full-length poetry collections. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Nyctalocos: A Collection of Night Terrors. Genre: Horror. See theme. Payment: $10 per 1K words, and one contributor copy. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Indie Bites. Genre: Fantasy. See theme. Payment: £5. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Year's Best Canadian Fantasy and Science Fiction Series. Restrictions: Authors must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or ex-pats. Genre: Fantasy and science fiction published in the previous year. Payment: 1 cent (0.01 CAD) per word for non-exclusive world English language reprint rights for fiction. Poetry will receive a $10 CAD reprint fee. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Haven Speculative. Genre: Speculative fiction and poetry. Payment: 8¢ per word for fiction and $20 for poetry. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

The Ranger's Almanac. Genre: Stories, poems, artwork, photography, and music from rangers and nature enthusiasts nationwide. Payment: $10 for stories of 1,000+ words, artwork, and music. $5 for stories under 1,000 words, poems, and photographs. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Scylla Publishing: Who Am I? A Sapphic Spec Fic Anthology of Identity and Purpose. Genre: Fiction. This anthology aims to explore sapphic identity and purpose through the lens of fantasy and speculative fiction. Payment: AUD0.10 per word. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Shtriga: Slavic Supernatural Anthology. Genre: Slavic fantasy and horror. Payment: $35. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Black Beacon Books: The Fourth Black Beacon Book of Mystery. Genre: Mysteries. Length: 3,000 - 9,000 words. Payment: $30.  Deadline: February 28, 2026.

JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ stories, 12,000 words minimum. See themes. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Need: Horror Stories You Can’t Live Without. Genre: Horror on theme: Need. Payment: $20. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Silver Sun Books: Ruins and Rituals Anthology. Genre: Fantasy fiction on the theme, Ruins and Rituals. Payment: £5. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Southword. Genre: Fiction. Payment: €400 per short story. Deadline: February 28, 2026. Closes when cap is reached.

Who am I? Sapphic spec fic of identity and purpose. Restrictions: Open to writers who are sapphic, queer, lesbian, bisexual, or wlw, and whose gender identity is female, trans-female, or non-binary. Genre: Sapphic  speculative fiction. Payment: $0.10 (AUD) per word, with a maximum payment of $400 (AUD) per story. Reprints are capped at $100 (AUD) per story. Deadline: February 28, 2026. Reprints accepted.

Nonbinary Review. Genre: Speculative fiction, poetry, art. Length: Up to 3,000 words for prose; up to 3 pages for poetry. See theme. Payment: $0.01/word for prose, $10 for poetry. $25 flat fee for visual art, or $50 for pieces chosen as cover art. Deadline: February 28, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Zooscape. Genre: Short stories. All stories must be furry. "An anthropomorphic animal figure should be significantly featured in your story — it could be anthropomorphic in body or only intelligence. We’ll consider any type of furry fiction from secret life of animals to fox in Starbucks. We love science-fiction with animal-like aliens and fantasy with talking dragons, unicorns, or witch familiars." Payment: 8 cents/word for original fiction. $20 for reprints. Length: Original stories up to 5,000 words. Reprints up to 10,000 words. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Dragon Soul Press: Splash. Genre: All mermaids (and their kin), kraken (sea monsters), underwater civilizations, etc. stories are welcome. All genres are accepted. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Dragon Soul Press: The Wild Frontier. Genre: All stories featuring the Wild West, cowboys, outlaws, etc. Cross genres are accepted (ex. Cowboys vs Aliens, etc). Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Screams and Wails. Genre: Horror short stories with music at their still-beating heart. Think cursed instruments; songs that drive the listener mad; zombie fans; haunted studios. Payment: 1p a word to a maximum of £50. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Bridge House. Genre: Stories between 1000 and 5000 words on the subject of  'Room at the Inn?' Payment: Royalties. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

New Myths. Genre: Speculative fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction and poetry. Payment: 3 cents/word with a minimum payment of $50 for all submissions, fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction and poetry; $50 for book reviews; $80 for art. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Memezine. Genre: "Send any traditional or hybrid pieces that directly or indirectly engage with memes, political/current events, viral content, trends, social media, pop/internet culture, technology, and any other work that blurs the lines between art, literature, and content." Payment: $10. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Inkd Publishing: Heightened Anxiety. Genre: Thrills and suspense. Payment: Minimum $10. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Carmen et Error. Genre: Poems, 40(ish) lines max. Fiction, 400(ish) words max. Payment: £5. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Eavesdrop is a queer-focused multimedia magazine. Restrictions: Open to Canadians. Genre: Fiction, poetry, CNF, art, audio. Payment: $30 per poem, $70 per short fiction and CNF piece, $30 per comic. See themes. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

AND A FEW MORE...

Toronto Journal. Genre: Short stories from anywhere in the world. No word limit. "We will also consider non-fiction pieces that are either set locally or explore some local history (Toronto, GTA, and surrounding)." Payment: $50 CAD per piece. All published writers will also receive two printed copies of the issue in which they appear. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Teach. Write. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, flash fiction, poetry, CNF. "I prefer writing that is either written by composition teachers and writing students OR about teaching and learning." Payment: $15. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Singapore Unbound: Suspect. Restrictions: Open to authors who identify as Asian. Genre: Fiction and essays (maximum 6,500 words) or poetry (maximum 10 pages). See theme. Payment: $100. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Altar. Genre: Poetry, prose, CNF, reviews, recipes, rituals. Payment: $5. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Transcendent Fiction Publishing: Verify You’re Not Human Anthology. Genre: Speculative fiction. "The main character of the story must be therian (or similar forms of identity, such as otherkin) – this can be a “coming out” story as the character recognises themselves as therian, or can be an established identity." Payment: AUD 1c/word. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Sundog. Genre: Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art. Payment: $50. Deadline: Opens March 1, 2026, and closes when they reach capacity.

Thema. Genre: Fiction, poetry, and art on theme: While the Snowstorm Was Raging. Payment:  $10-$25 for short fiction and artwork, $10 for poetry. Deadline: March 1, 2026. Accepts reprints.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Cat Stories. Genre: True stories and poems. "We are looking for first-person true stories and poems up to 1200 words that highlight the unique personalities that cats have. Celebrate your cat, or a cat you know, with a wonderful story about what he or she does. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both." Payment: $200. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

Book XI. Genre: Personal essays, memoir, fiction, science fiction, humor, and poetry with philosophical themes. See theme. Payment: $200 for prose; $50 for poetry. Deadline: March 1, 2026. Closes when cap is reached so submit early.

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Dog Stories. Genre: True stories and poems. "We are looking for first-person true stories and poems up to 1200 words that highlight the unique personalities that cats have. Celebrate your cat, or a cat you know, with a wonderful story about what he or she does. Stories can be serious or humorous, or both." Payment: $200. Deadline: March 1, 2026.

92 Writing Contests in February 2026 - No entry fees

This February there are more than seven dozen free writing contests for short fiction, novels, poetry, CNF, nonfiction, and plays. Prizes range from $100,000 to publication. None charge entry fees.

Some of these contests have age and geographical restrictions, so read the instructions carefully.

If you want to get a jump on next month's contests go to Free Contests. Many of these contests are offered annually, so even if the deadline has passed, you can prepare for next year.

Good luck! 

[Image: Pexels]

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Luminarts Creative Writing Fellowship. The Creative Writing Fellowship awards two $10,000 grant Fellowships for excellence in creative writing in the categories of prose and poetry, in fiction and nonfiction. Applicants submit a two-page written piece (either a stand-alone piece or an excerpt of a larger piece such as a novel or short story). Open to writers between the ages of 18 and 30 years old at the time of application; be enrolled in, or have graduated from, a degree program; and live within 150 miles of the Union League Club of Chicago. Genre: Poetry or prose, fiction and nonfiction. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

The Frances “Frank” Rollin Fellowship. Genre: The fellowship is open to all biographers anywhere in the world who are writing in English, who are working on a biography of an African American figure (or figures), and who are at any stage in the writing of a book-length biography. Prize: $5000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

World History Association Bentley Book Prize. Genre: World history book published in the immediately preceding calendar year. Prize: $500. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

$1000 for 1000 Words Creative Writing Contest is sponsored by the Leyla Beban Young Authors Foundation. Restrictions: Students enrolled in grades 6-12. Genre: Short fiction of exactly 1000 words. Prize: Two $1,000 scholarship prizes will be awarded, one for grades 6-8 and one for grades 9-12. Seven $100 cash prizes will also be awarded for winning entries, one per grade level. Deadline:  February 1, 2026. 

Paterson Prize for Books for Young People. Genre: Most outstanding book for young people published in previous year. There is a $1000 award in each category: Pre-K - Grade 3; Grades 4 - 6; Grades 7 - 12. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Paterson Poetry Prize. Genre: Poetry book published in the previous year. Prize: $2000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition. Restrictions: Writers must be enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate programme (master level or higher) in any field of study at a regular university, and be born in 1993 or later. Genre: Essay on "Disruption in Tech + Politics + Demography: What happens when they collide?" Length: 2,100 words. Prize: CHF20,000, split between three winners; they’ll also cover travel, accommodation, and admission to the symposium in Switzerland. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Mike Resnick Memorial Award: Best Unpublished Science Fiction Short Story by a New Author. Restrictions: Open to an author who has not had any work published (including short stories, novelettes, novellas, and novels in paper, digital or audio form) that has been paid a per-word rate of 6 cents a word or more or received a payment for any single work of fiction totaling more than $50. Genre: Science fiction short story, up to 7,499 words. Prize: $250 and publication. Deadline: Feburary 1, 2026.

Wednesday Club Junior Poetry Prize. Restrictions: High School Students in Grades 9 through 12 in the St. Louis Area. Genre: Poetry. Two individual poems. Prizes: $200,  $150,  $100, $80, $50, and up to five $25 honorable mentions TEACHER AWARDS: $200, $150, $100. (Applies to teachers of first three student winners.) Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Wednesday Club Poetry Prize. Restrictions: Adults over 18; living within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis. Genre: Poetry. Two individual poems. Prizes: $500, $300, $150. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

The Levis Reading Prize is sponsored by the Department of English and its MFA in Creative Writing program at Virginia Commonwealth University. Restrictions: The prize is given annually for the best first or second book of poetry published in the previous calendar year. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $5000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

New Media Writing Prize. Genre: Fiction or non-fiction written specifically for delivery and reading/viewing on a PC or Mac, the web, or a hand-held device such as an iPad or mobile phone. It could be a short story, novel, poem, narrative game, documentary, or transmedia work using words, images, film or animation with audience interaction. Interactivity is a key element of new-media storytelling. Prize: Up to £1000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Gannon University Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Entrants must be a US high school student or a home-schooled student in grades nine through twelve. Genre: Poetry. Each student may enter 1 or 2 poems; each poem may be no longer than 50 lines. Prize: First Place: $100.00 Second Place: $75.00 Third Place: $50.00. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

Hodson Trust–John Carter Brown Library Fellowship. Genre: Nonfiction (includes creative nonfiction). A book-in-process relating to the literature, history, culture, or art of the Americas before 1830. Award: $20,000. Deadline: February 1, 2026.

The Young Romantics Prizes. Restrictions: Open to anyone aged 16-18 years old. Genre: Essay or poem on theme. (See website for themes). Essays must be no shorter than 750 words and no longer than 1000, including quotations. Poems should be: no more than 30 lines in length and must fit onto a single A4 page. Prize: £700. Deadline: February 2, 2026.

Keats-Shelley Essay Prize. Genre: Essay on any aspect of the writing and/or lives of the Romantics and their circles. Length: 3,000 words including quotations. Prize: £1000. Deadline: February 2, 2026.

Narrative Magazine High School Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students aged 15-18. Genre: Poetry on theme. Prize: Up to $500. Deadline: February 4, 2026.

Young Northern Writers’ Awards. Restrictions: Open to young writers aged 11-18 in the North of England. Genre: Creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap. Prize: Up to £150. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

Great Northern Read Award. Restrictions:  Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months.Over the age of 18. A debut writer who is yet to have published or self-published a full-length work. A writer of fiction across all genres. Currently unagented. Genre: Novel-in-progress. Prize: £2500. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

Matthew Hale Award. Restrictions: Open to young people aged 11-18 based in the North of England. Entrants must be 18 years or under on 6 February 2025 when the awards close. The Matthew Hale Award is open to young writers who show promise but have had limited opportunities to pursue their talent. This could be due to a number of factors, including physical or mental ill-health, family circumstances, financial circumstances, lack of access to cultural opportunities or other reasons. Genre: Creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap. Prize: Package of support created by New Writing North to the value of £500. The package will be tailored to the specific interests and needs of the winner, but could include anything from one-on-one mentoring with a professional writer, enrolment on a course, books, theatre tickets or a pass to a literature festival. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

The Eva Ibbotson Award. Restrictions: Open to young writers aged 11-15 in the North of England who are writing in English as an additional language. Writers must be aged 11-15 when the awards close on 6 February 2025. Genre: Creative work in any form including prose, poetry, scriptwriting, blogging, songwriting and rap. Prize: Package of support created by New Writing North to the value of £500. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

Northern Writers’ Awards for Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction. Restrictions: Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Genre: Full-length novel, work of narrative non-fiction or a short-story collection work in progress. Prize: Winners will receive awards of between £2000 and £5000 to support them to develop work in progress and to complete promising manuscripts. They will also be given access to the Northern Writers’ Awards Network. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

Northern Writers’ Awards for Fiction and Narrative Non-Fiction and Young Adult. Restrictions: Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months, and who are yet to publish a full-length novel or collection of short stories. Genre: Fiction, narrative non-fiction, young adult fiction. Prize: £2000, mentoring and access to the Northern Writers’ Awards Network. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

The Northern Writers’ Awards for Poetry and Debut Poetry. Restrictions: Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Genre: Poetry collection. Open to both established and debut poets. Prize: Winners will receive awards of between £2000 and £5000 to support them to develop work in progress and to complete promising manuscripts. They will also be given access to the Northern Writers’ Awards Network. Deadline: February 5, 2026.

The University of Chester Flash (Youth). Restrictions: Open to Scottish students aged 16-19 who are studying in the UK. Genre: flash fiction of up to 360 words. Prize: Up to £100. Deadline: February 6, 2026.

Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. Genre: Adventure writing novel. Prize: £10,000. Deadline: February 6, 2026.

Highlights Foundation Scholarships. Prize: 25 full tuition scholarships and 20 partial tuition scholarships for workshops that take place at the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center. 30 full tuition scholarships for online courses through the Highlights Foundation. 15 scholarships for personal retreats at the Highlights Foundation Retreat Center. Deadline: February 9, 2026.

Atwood Gibson Writers' Trust Fiction Prize. Genre: Fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. No self-published works. Prize: $60,000 will be awarded to a novel or short-story collection published between Oct 1, 2025 and Feb 10, 2026. Prizes of $5,000 will be awarded to each of the finalists. Deadline: February 11, 2026.

Hilary Weston Writers' Trust Prize for Non-Fiction. Genre: Literary non-fiction. Restrictions: Titles must be published in Canada and written by Canadians. Prize: $75,000 will be awarded to a literary nonfiction book published between Oct 1, 2025 and Feb 10, 2026. Deadline: February 11, 2026.

Writers' Trust Dayne Ogilvie Prize for LGBTQ2S+ Emerging Writers. Restrictions: Open to Canadian LGBTQ+ writers. Genre: Debut book  published between October 1, 2025 and February 10, 2026. Prize: $12,000. Deadline: February 11, 2026.

The Tomorrow Prize & The Green Feather Award. Restrictions: Open to Los Angeles County high school students. Genre: Science fiction, and environmentally focused sci-fi story. Prize: Tomorrow Prize: $250, $150, and $100 USD. Green Feather Award: $250.00 & online publication by the Nature Nexus Institute. Deadline: February 13, 2026.

Footnote x Counterpoints Writing Prize. Restrictions: Anyone from a refugee or migrant background is eligible to submit an entry for the prize if they are resident in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, whether they have previously been published or not. You do not need to have finished writing your book in order to enter. Genre: Narrative non-fiction centred around themes of displacement, identity and/or resistance. Prize: £15,000 award, which includes an advance of £5,000 and a publication agreement with Footnote Press. Deadline: February 13, 2026.

There Is No Planet B STAFFORD GREEN ARTS FESTIVAL. Genre: Art. Prize: Public display. Deadline: February 13, 2026. Open to ages 8 and up.

Writers' & Artists' Short Story Competition. Genre: Short story. All entries must be original unpublished prose of 2,000 words or fewer. See theme. Prize: A place on one of Arvon's residential writing courses and publication. Deadline: February 13, 2026.

Havok. Genre: Flash fiction. See themes. Payment: $50 via PayPal for one story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: February 13, 2026.

Tree2mydoor Valentines Day Poetry competition. Restrictions: Open to UK citizens. Genre: Witty or soppy, romantic or silly Valentines Day poems. Prize: £100 worth of Tree2mydoor gift vouchers. Deadline: February 14, 2026.

Giller Prize. Restrictions: Open to books published in Canada in English. Books must be published in Canada in English between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026 to be eligible for the 2026 Prize. Must  be nominated by publisher. Genre: Fiction. Full-length novel or collection of short stories published in English, either originally, or in translation. Prize: $100,000 to the winner and $10,000 to each of the finalists. Deadline: February 14, 2026.

James Welch Prize for Indigenous Poets. Restrictions: The prize is open to new, emerging, and established poets who are community-recognized members of tribal nations within the United States and its trust territories (including American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, Chamorros, and American Samoans). Only poets who have not published more than one book-length collection are eligible; however, previous publication is not a requirement. Eligible contestants must be community-recognized members of their tribal nation. Formal tribal enrollment is not the only way of acknowledging belonging, and this prize aims to recognize all Native writers who are in community. Previous first place winners of this prize are not eligible, but previous finalists are welcome to submit work. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Libraro Prize. Genre: Full-length fiction or crossover YA. Prize: £50,000 package from Libraro and a book deal with a major international publisher – Hachette UK. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Dolors Alberola Poetry Prize. Genre: Full-length poetry collection. Prize: Winner receives translation to another European language; publication of the collection (bilingual edition); 50 copies; and royalties. Finalists receive publication of the collection (Spanish edition), 10 copies of the book, and royalties on Publisher’s edition and subsidiary rights. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Jacob Zilber Prize for Short Fiction.  Genre: Short fiction. Prize: $1,500 top prize. Deadline: Deadline: February 15, 2026. Note: There are two different deadlines on the submittable page, one for February 15, and another for March 2. I've chosen the earlier date. There is no entry fee noted on the Submittable page.

Harold Morton Landon Translation Award. Genre: Poetry collection translated from any language into English and published in the previous calendar year. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Raiziss/de Palchi Translation Award. Genre: Poetry - translation into English of a significant work of modern Italian poetry. Prize: $25,000. The Raiziss/de Palchi Fellowship will be given in 2026 to enable an American translator to travel, study, or otherwise advance a significant work-in-progress. The Academy invites applications from American translators currently engaged in the translation of twentieth-century Italian poetry. The winning translator will receive an award of $25,000 and a five-week residency at the American Academy in Rome. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Moving Words Poetry Competition for Adults. Genre: Poems of 10 lines or less that will be displayed inside Arlington Transit buses. Prize: $250. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Hub City Press. Restrictions: Open to writers of all levels who have lived in South Carolina for at least one year prior to submission of their manuscript. Genre: Novel. Prize: $1,500 and book publication, including marketing and tour support from Hub City Press and the series partners, as well as placement in all South Carolina state libraries and readings/events with presenting sponsors. Deadline: February 15, 2026. Biennial award.

Bar Sagi Prize. Restrictions: Open to Israelis aged 12 to 18 when the poem was written. Genre: Poem. Prize: 400 NIS first prize, 250 NIS second prize, 100 NIS third prize. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Charles Crupi Memorial Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students in Michigan.  Genre: Poetry. Prize: 1st place - $250 and publication in The Albion Review, 2nd place - $150 and publication in The Albion Review; 3rd place - $100 and publication in The Albion Review. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Charles S. Longcope Jr. Writers and Artists Grant. Genre: Emerging scholars, writers, or artists whose proposed project makes a contribution to LGBTQ+ scholarship or the arts are eligible to apply. Prize: Up to three gifts of up to $5,000 each. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

Haiku Society of America Merit Book Awards for Excellence in Published Haiku, Translation, and Criticism. Genre: Published book. Books must have been published in 2023 and must clearly contain a printed 2023 copyright. A member, author, or publisher may submit or nominate more than one title. At least 50 percent of the book must be haiku, senryu, or haibun, or prose about these subjects (books mostly of tanka, for example, are not eligible). Prize: $500. Deadline: February 15, 2026.

53-Word Story Contest. Genre: Flash fiction of exactly 53 words based on monthly theme. Prize: Publication and a free book. Deadline: February 15, 2026. This is a monthly contest.

 

Iron Horse 2025 Chapbook Competition. Genre: Prose chapbook, between 40 and 56 pages (10,000 - 20,000 words) Prize: $1,000 honorarium and 15 copies. Deadline: Note: They will accept 25 free submissions on February 15, 2026 for those who cannot afford to pay the entry fee.

Hefner Heitz Kansas Book Award in Poetry (Kansas Book Award). Restrictions: Author must establish a connection to Kansas by birth, education, employment, residence or other significant claim. Genre: Novel or collection of short stories. The nominee's book must have a publication date of 2023, 2024, or 2025. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 17, 2026.

Randall Albers Young Writers Award. Restrictions: Open to  all Chicago-area students currently enrolled in grades 9–12. Genre: Fiction, nonfiction. Prize: $250 top prize, Deadline: February 17, 2026.

Collaborature. Restrictions: Submissions must be written by more than one author or include a collaboration of two people (i.e., art and poetry). Genre: Poetry, prose, art. Prize: $20. Deadline: February 17, 2026. Note: This is a monthly contest.

Christopher Tower Poetry Competition. Restrictions: Open to UK students between 16-18 years of age. Genre: Poetry, one poem, maximum 48 lines. See theme. Prize: £5,000. Deadline: February 19, 2026. 

Iris N. Spencer Undergraduate Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Poetry composed in the traditional modes of meter, rhyme and received forms. Prize: First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Wiley-Silver Prize in Civil War History. Genre: First book or monograph in Civil War history published in the previous year. Books or monographs published by scholarly or popular presses are eligible. Prize: $2,000. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Sonnet Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Sonnet. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Villanelle Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Villanelle. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Myong Cha Son Haiku Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Haiku. Prize: First prize $1,500, and a runner-up prize $500. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Gaithersburg Book Festival Poetry Contest. Restrictions: Open to high school students (grades 9-12) from across the Washington Metropolitan Area (Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC). Genre: Poetry. See topic. Prize: First, 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive $250, $100 and $50 gift certificates. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

Rhina P. Espaillat Poetry Award. Restrictions: Open to undergraduate poets who are enrolled in a United States college or university. Genre: Original poems written in Spanish and translations of English poems to Spanish. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

VCA Playwriting Award. Genre: Play. Prize: Winner receives a £2,500 fee, or 10% of the production’s ticket sales, whichever is greater. Deadline: February 20, 2026.

'The Origin of Bigfoot' writing contest. Genre: Short story about the origin of Bigfoot. Prize: $300. Deadline: February 21, 2026.

The Matthew Power Literary Reporting Award supports the work of a promising early-career nonfiction writer on a story that uncovers truths about the human condition. Genres: Nonfiction journalism works in progress with “strong, character-driven narratives with detailed scene writing and lyrical description.” Restrictions: The award will not fund proposals to report on armed conflicts where journalists are already imperiled, nor projects that are mainly investigatory. Prize: $6,000 upon announcement of the winning proposal; $3,000 upon evidence of substantial progress (usually a first draft); and $3,500 upon completion and acceptance by the Award committee. Deadline: February 22, 2026.

Harper’s Bazaar short-story competition. Restrictions: Open to UK residents or nationals, aged 18 or over. Genre: Original, unpublished short story, written in English on the subject of ‘The open road’ up to 2,000 words. Prize: Two-night stay at Chewton Glen in Hampshire (UK). Deadline: February 22, 2026.

Walter Rumsey Marvin Grant. Restrictions: Open to authors under 30 years of age who have not had a book published. Applicant must have been born in Ohio or have lived in Ohio for a minimum of five years. Genre: Short fiction and creative non-fiction. Prize: $1,000. Deadline: February 23, 2026.

The Lakefly Writers Conference. Restrictions: Open to residents of Wisconsin. Genres: Short story fiction: 3000 words or less. Any genre. Poetry: All poems, free verse to formal and everything in between—75 lines max. Personal Essay: 2500 words max. Prize: First place winners will receive a cash prize of $100; second place winners will receive $75; and third place winners will receive $50. Winners must be able to attend an awards ceremony. Deadline: February 23, 2026.

Toronto Star Short Story Contest. Restrictions: Open to Ontario residents 16 years of age or older. Genre: Short story. Prize: 1st prize - $5000; 2nd prize - $2000, 3rd prize - $1000. Deadline: February 25, 2026.

My List: A Different Kind of Review Contest. Restrictions: Open to middle school and high school students ages 13 -19. Genre: A review of architecture, art, books, comedy, dance, fashion, movies, music, podcasts, restaurants, technology, theater, TV shows or video games. Length: 600 words max. Prize: Publication. Deadline: February 25, 2026.

Children's Books North Network Prize. Restrictions: Open to writers living in the North of England at the time of entering and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Over the age of 18. Unpublished as an illustrator. For this prize, unpublished means you have never had any illustrations previously published by a publisher in any format (and are not under contract to have your work published). You can have been published as a writer, but not as an illustrator. Genre: Illustration. Prize: £1,000. Deadline: February 26, 2026.

Charlotte Aitken Trust Awards. Restrictions: Open to writers living and working in the North of England and planning to remain here for at least another 12 months. Over the age of 18. A writer of fiction, poetry and/or creative non-fiction who has published at least one full-length work (such as a novel, poetry collection or memoir); or a poet who has published at least one pamphlet and has published at least four individual poems in magazines, online or in anthologies; or a fiction writer who has published a novella or at least four short stories in magazines and anthologies; or an author of essays or similar non-fiction pieces that have been widely published online and in print. An emerging early career writer. Working towards a new full-length work and have an outline of this writing project. This work does not have to be in the same genre or form as your previous publications. You will be required to submit a writing extract from your work-in-progress. Genre: Fiction WIP, Poetry, Narrative Nonfiction. Prize: £5,000. Deadline: February 26, 2026.

Pegasus Award for Poetry Criticism. Genre: This prize seeks to honor the best book-length works of criticism published in the US in the prior calendar year, including biographies, essay collections, and critical editions that consider the subject of poetry or poets. Prize: $10,000. Deadline: February 27, 2026 for first time nominations only. All others, March 2.

Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships. Restrictions: Applicants must reside in the U.S. or be U.S. citizens. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age and no older than 31 years in 2026. Genre: Poetry. Prize: $27,000.  Deadline: February 27, 2026. Please submit an initial registration form.

How Can We Prevent Future Wars? Restrictions: Open to young people ages 9 - 18. Genre: Poetry, art, speech, song. Prize: Unspecified. Deadline: February 27, 2026.

Caine Prize for African Writing. Restrictions: Open to writers born in Africa, or nationals of an African country, or with a parent who is African by birth or nationality, Genre: Short fiction (published). Prize: £10,000. Deadline: February 27, 2026.

Action! Prize. Restrictions: Open to residents in the UK, Ireland or US and over 18 at time of submission. Genre: YOUNG FICTION for 6-8 years (such as Dave Pigeon), GRAPHIC NOVELS for 6-14 years (such as Peng & Spanners) and ACTION ADVENTURE for 9-12 years (such as Alex Rider and the Gone series). Prize: FIRST PRIZE – A worldwide publishing offer from Faber (subject to contract). SECOND PRIZE – Editorial feedback from the Judges.) Deadline: February 27, 2026.

Black Caucus of ALA (BCALA) Self-Publishing Literary Awards. Genre: Self-published ebook by an African American author in the U.S. in both fiction and poetry genres. BCALA awards acknowledge outstanding achievement in the presentation of the cultural, historical and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora. The purpose is to encourage the artistic expression of the African American experience via literature and scholarly research including biographical, historical, and social history treatments by African Americans. Prize: $2,500.00, formal recognition at the NCAAL conference, and a BCALA Literary Award Seal to use in their marketing. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Sejong Cultural Society Sijo Competition. Genre: Sijo. Prizes: Adult: $1000, $750, $500, $50 for honorable mention, plus possible publication. Pre-college division: First ($500), Second ($400), Third ($300) Deadline: February 28, 2026.

The American Buffalo Books Fiction Prize. Genre: Novels — from 40,000 to 80,000 words — that are set in or explore the Midwest, the Great Plains, and/or the alleged flyover portions of the West. Prize: $500 and publication. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Imagine Little Tokyo. Little Tokyo Historical Society (LTHS) seeks fictional short stories in Japanese or English for its “Imagine Little Tokyo” writing contest. The setting of the story should be in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, CA– either past, present or future. Prize: $1000. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

The Orwell Society Dystopian Fiction Prize. Restrictions: Open to current students (both BA and MA) at British universities. Genre: Dystopian narratives of 3,000 words. See theme. Prize: £750. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Diana Woods Memorial Award in Creative Nonfiction. Genre: Essay, maximum 5,000 words. Prize: $250 top prize. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

The Gabo Prize for Literature in Translation & Multi-Lingual Texts. Genre: Literary translations and multi-lingual texts. Prize: $200. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

A Long Winter's Night Contest. Genre: "Tell us the story of a long winter’s night, true or made up, but make it short: fifty words or less." Prize: Free Gotham class. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Voices of Mixed Heritage. Genre: Submit essays, fiction, or poetry exploring themes of multicultural or third-culture identity, love, belonging, home life, and pain. We seek heartfelt reflections on living between worlds. Prize: $500. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition. Restrictions: Open to all students of school age including not only those in schools and college communities, but also students who are home educated and in any other young people’s community organisations. Genre: Poetry and fiction: See prompts. Prize: £300 top prize. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Atlanta Haiku Festival Poetry Competition. Genre: Haiku on Theme: Growing Gold. Prize: $100 Grand Prize. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Words Without Borders Momentum Grant for Early-Career Translators. Genre: The grant is intended to facilitate the completion of a substantial sample of a book-length work of prose translation suitable for submission to English-language publishers, and will be awarded to an individual translator who has not yet received a book-length contract for translation work into English. We particularly welcome submissions from translators from historically underrepresented cultures and backgrounds. Prize: $3000. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Tom Grass Spirit of Adventure Literary Prize. Genre: Stand-alone prose in either Fiction or Non-Fiction (1,500 - 3,000 words). "We invite writers to grapple with the spirit of adventure in any way they interpret." Prize: £1,000 to the winner and two runner-up prizes of £500 each. Deadline: February 28, 2026.

Apex Flash Fiction Contest. Genre: Speculative fiction, 1000 words max. Prize: 8 cents/word or $10, which ever is greater. Deadline: February 28, 2026. Note: Apex Magazine’s Flash Fiction Contest is open from the 7th until the final day of each month. The contest is themed.

Substack runs a monthly short story competition. Their mission is to "revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful." Genre: Short story. Length: 6000- 10,000 words. Prize: $100 plus 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Deadline: February 28, 2026. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute.