Contests, Grants, and Residencies Calls for Submissions September 2026 August 14, 2026 Share on Twitter (opens in a new tab) on Facebook (opens in a new tab) on Linkedin (opens in a new tab) via email Each month we curate a list of contests, fellowships, and other writing opportunities with approaching deadlines. Opportunities will be posted in the month prior to their deadlines, so that you have ample time to submit your work or applications. Fiction Contests Dzanc Books Prize for FictionEligibility: All writersPrize: $5,000 + publicationEntry fee: $25Deadline: September 30, 2026 Dzanc Books Short Story Collection PrizeEligibility: All writersPrize: $2,500 + publicationEntry fee: $25Deadline: September 30, 2026 Juniper Prize for FictionEligibility: All writers in EnglishPrize: $1,000 + publicationEntry fee: $30Deadline: September 30, 2026 Nonfiction Contests Juniper Prize for Creative NonfictionEligibility: All writers in EnglishPrize: $1,000 + publicationEntry fee: $30Deadline: September 30, 2026 Poetry Contests Academy of American Poets First Book AwardEligibility: U.S. poets who have not previously published a bookPrize: $5,000 + publicationEntry fee: $35Deadline: September 1, 2026 Brittingham Prize in PoetryEligibility: All poetsPrize: $1,500 + publicationEntry fee: $28Deadline: September 15, 2026 Felix Pollak Prize in PoetryEligibility: All poetsPrize: $1,500 + publicationEntry fee: $28Deadline: September 15, 2026 Juniper Prize for PoetryEligibility: All writers in EnglishPrize: $1,000 + publicationEntry fee: $30Deadline: September 30, 2026 Philip Levine Prize in PoetryEligibility: Any poet writing in EnglishPrize: $2,000 + publicationEntry fee: $25Deadline: September 30, 2026 Multi-Genre Contests American Literary Review AwardsEligibility: All writersPrize: $1,000 + publicationEntry fee: $15Deadline: September 1, 2026 Translation Contests Leif and Inger Sjöberg AwardEligibility: English translations of works written in a Nordic languagePrize: $2,000 + publicationDeadline: September 1, 2026 Inger and Jens Bruun Translation PrizeEligibility: English translations of works written in DanishPrize: $2,000 + publicationDeadline: September 1, 2026 Nadia Christensen PrizeEligibility: English translations of works written in a Nordic languagePrize: $5,000 + publicationDeadline: September 1, 2026 Ambroggio PrizeEligibility: Translators with a book-length poetry manuscript originally written in Spanish and with an English translationPrize: $1,000 + publicationDeadline: September 15, 2026 Writing Fellowships & Residencies MacDowell ColonyEligibility: All writersPrize: 4-month residencyEntry fee: $30Deadline: September 10, 2026 Anne Spencer FellowshipEligibility: Writers, w/preference given to African American writersPrize: 1-month residency at VCCA + $1,500 upon completion of residencyEntry fee: $30Deadline: September 15, 2026 Cullman Center FellowshipEligibility: All writersPrize: $90,000 stipend + access to the research collections at the NYPL Stephen A. Schwartzman BuildingDeadline: September 25, 2026
