The Creative Future Writers' Award is the only free to enter national writing competition for all underrepresented writers - those who face barriers due to health, mental health, identity or social circumstance.
The competition is open to any underrepresented writer over 18, living in the UK, who has not published a book in a literary genre.
The theme for 2026 is 'Material.' You can submit one piece of writing in poetry (50 lines max.), fiction or creative non-fiction (2,000 words max.)
Fifteen prize winners are selected by a panel of prestigious authors and industry experts, and are given the opportunity to develop their work through £25,000 of prizes in training, mentoring, assessment and coaching. Winning writers are also published in our anthology and invited to read at a showcase event at the London Literature Festival.
Please see here for complete rules, eligibility and how to enter.
Enter online here.
To enter by e-mail or post, please see here.
Deadline: 11:59pm on 5 May 2026.