When students write for teachers, it can feel like an assignment. When they write for a real purpose, they are empowered! Student writing contests are a challenging and inspiring way to try writing for an authentic audience—a real panel of judges—and the possibility of prize money or other incentives. We’ve gathered a list of the best student writing contests, and there’s something here for everyone. Prepare highly motivated kids in need of an authentic writing mentor, and watch the words flow.

2025-2026 Student Writing Contests

1. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

With a wide range of categories—from critical essays to science fiction and fantasy—the Scholastic Awards are a mainstay of student contests. Each category has its own rules and word counts, so be sure to check out the options before you decide which one is best for your students.

How To Enter

Students in grades 7 to 12, ages 13 and up, may begin submitting work in September by uploading to an online account at Scholastic and connecting to their local region. Entry fees are waived for students in need.

2. YoungArts National Arts Competition

YoungArts offers an annual national competition in the categories of creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story, and spoken word. Student winners may receive awards of up to $10,000 as well as the chance to participate in artistic development with leaders in their fields.

How To Enter

Check out the site for guidelines on writing modes, such as short stories and spoken word poetry, and sign up for updates so you’re ready when the applications open.

3. Future Scholar Foundation Short Story Contest

Monthly contests, each with different themes, offer Amazon gift cards and publication as awards. It’s open to elementary and middle school students.

How To Enter

Check the site each month for the new theme. Submissions are due on the 28th of the month.

4. Write the World Writing Competitions

Not only is Write the World one of my favorite places to find writing resources, but it also hosts free monthly contests with cash prizes. There are also opportunities for feedback and lots of ideas to help students get started.

How To Enter

With a student account, young writers draft and submit their work on the website.

5. National Youth Foundation Programs

This is a great chance for kids to express themselves with joy and strength in a variety of competitions.

How To Enter

The rules, prizes, and deadlines vary, so check out the website for more info.

6. American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest

If you’re looking to help students take a deep dive into international relations, history, and writing, look no further than this essay contest. Winners receive a voyage with the Semester at Sea program and a trip to Washington, D.C.

How To Enter

Students fill out a registration form online, and a teacher or sponsor is required. The deadline to enter is March 1, 2026.

7. The Kennedy Center’s Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program

Each year during National Poetry Month in April, students can write letters to famous poets in response to their work. In this interactive contest, all submissions receive a general letter and certificate, and winners receive a personalized response from the poet they wrote to. It’s a great way to #TeachLivingPoets, and kids get to ask questions about the creative process.

How To Enter

Apply online by January 7, 2026.

8. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

This annual contest invites students to write about an elected official’s act of political courage that occurred anytime after 1917, the year Kennedy was born. The winner receives $10,000, and 16 runners-up also receive a variety of cash prizes.

How To Enter

Students may submit a 700-to-1,000-word essay through January 12. The essay must feature more than five sources and a full bibliography.

9. WriteCause Competitions

These free quarterly contests accept a variety of written submissions, each based on a different quarterly theme. WriteCause also provides research links so students can learn about the topics before writing. Open to kids ages 13 to 18.

How To Enter

Check out the Compete link for contest information each quarter, and use the online submission form.

10. The Princeton Ten-Minute Play Contest

Looking for student writing contests for budding playwrights? This exclusive competition, which is open only to high school juniors, is judged by the theater faculty of Princeton University. Students submit short plays in an effort to win recognition and cash prizes of up to $500. (Note: Only open to 11th graders.)

How To Enter

Students submit one 10-page play script online or by mail. The deadline will be announced later this year.

11. SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest

Students respond to an annual prompt about the importance of journalism and compete to win scholarship awards. The new topic will be announced on December 10.

How To Enter

Submit through the JEA’s online portal with a $5 fee.

12. The New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest

This contest is also a wonderful writing challenge, and the New York Times includes lots of resources and models for students to be able to do their best work. They’ve even made a classroom poster!

How To Enter

Submissions need to be made electronically by December 3, 2025.

13. The New York Times Student Contest Calendar

For students who want to extend beyond 100-word memoirs, the New York Times also provides competitive opportunities in areas including photography, opinion pieces, and podcasting.

How To Enter

Find an area that students are interested in and check out the rules and deadlines at the website.

14. The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers is open to high school sophomores and juniors, and the winner receives a full scholarship to a Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop.

How To Enter

Submissions for the prize are accepted electronically from November 1 through November 30, 2025.

15. Jane Austen Society Essay Contest

High school students can win up to $1,000 and publication by entering an essay on a topic specified by the Jane Austen Society related to a Jane Austen novel.

How To Enter

Details for the 2026 contest will be announced this fall. Essay length is from six to eight pages, not including works cited.

16. The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwrights Festival Contest

The Blank Theatre’s Young Playwright’s Festival can be a life-changing experience. Winning plays are fully produced, and authors are included in the process.

How To Enter

Submit online or by mail by March 15, 2026.

17. One Teen Story Contest

Fiction writers ages 13 to 19 are eligible to enter a short story to be published on the One Teen Story website, along with $500 upon publication.

How To Enter

Complete the online form and make sure you select the right category for your age group.

18. YouthPlays New Voices

Young writers under 18 create new one-act plays for the stage. Winners receive cash awards and publication.

How To Enter

Scroll all the way down their web page for information on the contest, which accepts non-musical plays between 10 and 40 minutes long, submitted electronically. The entry period opens each year in January.

19. The Ocean Awareness Contest

The 2026 Ocean Awareness Contest theme—Your Story, Our Ocean—encourages students to explore the many ways our ocean sustains, protects, and inspires us. Students are eligible for a wide range of monetary prizes up to $1,000.

How To Enter

Students from 11 to 18 years old may submit work in the categories of art, creative writing, poetry and spoken word, film, interactive media and multimedia, or music and dance, accompanied by a reflection. The deadline is June 8, 2026.

20. Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition

The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition (HCGEC) is a virtual writing challenge designed for ambitious high school students. Hosted by The Harvard Crimson, a student organization at Harvard College.

How To Enter

Get a registration form via email by providing your info on the website.

21. NCTE Student Writing Awards

The National Council of Teachers of English offers several student writing awards, including Achievement Awards in Writing (for 10th and 11th grade students), Promising Young Writers (for 8th grade students), and an award to recognize Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines.

How To Enter

Deadlines range from February 15 to July 31. Check out NCTE.org for more details.

22. Narrative High School Writing Contest

The prompt for Narrative’s 11th Annual Writing Contest is “One True Thing.” Stories are limited to 600 words, and kids can also enter poems of no more than 50 lines. The website also provides different ideas and insights to help students approach the prompt.

How To Enter

Students in grades 9 through 12 submit their work through their teacher, who may submit up to 10 pieces. Submissions can be made from January 6 to February 4, 2026.

23. US vs HATE Contests

Engage social media–savvy students with this creative contest that seeks messages of kindness, inclusivity, and bridge-building.

How To Enter

Check the website for an informational poster as well as guidelines and ideas about how students can submit their work. Deadline is February 27, 2026.

24. National PTA Reflections Awards

The National PTA offers a variety of awards, including one for literature, in their annual Reflections Contest. Students of all ages can submit entries on the specified topic to their local PTA Reflections program. From there, winners move to the local area, state, and national levels. National-level awards include an $800 prize and a trip to the National PTA Convention.

How To Enter

This program requires submitting to PTAs who participate in the program. Check your school’s PTA for their deadlines.

25. World Historian Student Essay Competition

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international contest open to students enrolled in grades K through 12 in public, private, and parochial schools, as well as those in home-study programs. The $500 prize is based on an essay that addresses one of this year’s two prompts.

How To Enter

Students can submit entries via email or regular mail before the annual deadline of May 1.

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