The Bridport Prize is committed to discovering new writers in poetry, short story, flash fiction, the novel and memoir. The 2026 competition is now open for submissions. Open to writers of any nationality writing in English aged 16 and over.
Poetry
First prize: £5,000
Second prize: £1,000
Third prize: £500
Highly Commended 10 x £100
open to writers of any nationality writing in English aged 16 and over
Short Story
First prize: £5,000
Second prize: £1,000
Third prize: £500
Highly Commended 10 x £100
open to writers of any nationality writing in English
Flash Fiction
First prize: £1,000
Second prize: £500
Third prize: £250
Highly Commended 5 x £100
open to writers of any nationality writing in English
The Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award
First prize: £1,500
Runner up: £750
£150 x 3 awards
Twenty long listed writers: You’ll have a chance to take part in an online Ask Me Anything session with our award partners, A M Heath Literary Agency, The Literary Consultancy and Headline Fiction.
Find out more
here
Deadline: 31 May 2026