Creative Submissions, Prizes & Awards — June & July 2026

Your latest guide to paying markets, competitions, and publishing opportunities.

Welcome to the latest edition of Creative Submissions, Prizes & Awards on the Freelance Writing Network.

This roundup features 50+ fully verified opportunities with deadlines from June onwards, organized by region: worldwide, United States, and United Kingdom.

We’ve curated legitimate literary magazines, paying markets, fiction contests, poetry prizes, novel competitions, and journalism awards, all of which have been researched and verified for credibility. We’ve also been transparent on entry fees, prize money, and publication or development benefits.

Whatever stage you’re at, you’ll find options for emerging writers and for those targeting more prestigious international awards.

Happy submitting, and remember to always read the full guidelines before you hit send!

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🌍 Worldwide

Write By The Sea Writing Competition 2026
Kilmore Quay, Ireland-based festival, fully open to international writers. Four categories: Fiction Short Story (up to 2,500 words), Flash Fiction (up to 700 words), Poetry (up to 40 lines), and Memoir/Personal Essay (up to 1,000 words). All four category winners also receive a free weekend pass to the Write By The Sea Festival. Entry fee: €12 per entry (3 entries for €30). Winners published in The Waxed Lemon Literary Journal.
Prize: €500 per category winner, €300 (runner-up), €200 (3rd).
Deadline: June 7, 2026

Cranked Anvil Quarterly Play Writing Competition
Original scripts for radio and audio broadcast, 10–20 minutes in length. Theatre or film scripts adaptable for audio also welcome. Any theme, genre, or setting. Scripts are professionally produced and broadcast on Radio Northumberland. Up to three plays per quarter. Entry fee: £12 per play (£22 for two, £30 for three).
Prize: £50 plus a professional audio recording broadcast on UK radio and available online worldwide, plus inclusion in a future digital anthology.
Deadline: June 30, 2026

European Science Journalist of the Year Award 2026
Run by the European Federation for Science Journalism with support from Elsevier, this award recognises excellence and innovation in science journalism across Europe. Journalists working in European countries or whose work has been published in European media are eligible. Nominations (rather than self-submissions) are invited from EFSJ member organisations; check the site for details on how to put forward a candidate or be nominated. Free to enter.
Prize: €1,000 (1st), €500 (2nd and 3rd), plus travel expenses and one night’s accommodation for finalists.
Deadline: June 30, 2026 (nominations)

International Gerard Rochford Poetry Prize
The second international poetry competition in memory of distinguished Aberdeen poet Gerard Rochford offers entrants the chance to win unique handcrafted prizes created by the late poet’s daughter. The Gerard Rochford Poetry Prize 2026 invites free entries on the theme of ‘Journey’.
Prize: £200 along with the main ceramic prize, while two runners-up will each receive £50 and one of the smaller bowls.
Deadline: June 30, 2026

Anthology Poetry Competition 2026
Open to original, previously unpublished poems in English. Any genre. No limit on entries per person (separate entry form and fee per poem). Winner published in Anthology Magazine plus receives a one-year subscription. Entry fee: €15 (early bird, to June 30), €18 (standard July–October).
Prize: €1,000 (1st), €250 (2nd), €150 (3rd).
Deadline: Early-bird rate ends June 30

Hubert Butler Essay Prize 2026
Annual prize dedicated to the art of the essay with a European dimension. Theme for 2026: “Poetry makes nothing happen.” Open to UK and EU citizens aged 18+. Essays must be in English, up to 3,000 words. Submit by email. Free to enter.
Prize: €2,500 (sponsored by Haus Publishing).
Deadline: July 3, 2026