Footnote Press and Counterpoints Arts have once again partnered on the Footnote x Counterpoints Prize for writers from refugee and migrant backgrounds, with the 2026 prize focusing on fiction rather than non-fiction.
The award, worth £15,000, includes both a £7,500 cash prize and a publication agreement with Footnote Press with an advance of £7,500.
Submissions must be for fiction, for novels centered around themes of displacement, courage and/or belonging that have a literary audience in mind.
We welcome eclectic and expansive interpretations of these themes and are especially interested in work that sits at intersections, or across cultures, communities and borders.
Anyone from a refugee or migrant background, agented or unagented, is eligible to submit an entry for the Prize if they are a current resident of the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland.
The prize is in association with the Southbank Centre, who will host an event in May 2026 for the shortlisted authors to read and discuss their work. Further partners are to be announced.
Find out more here
Deadline: 5pm GMT, February 13th 2026