When students write for their teachers, it feels like an assignment. When they write for a true purpose, they are empowered! Student writing competitions are a challenging and inspiring way to try your hand at writing for a real audience—real jury— and the possibility of bonuses or other incentives. We’ve compiled a list of the best student writing competitions with something for everyone. Prepare for highly motivated kids who need a real writing tutor and watch the words flow.
Student Writing Competition for the 2025-2026 School Year
1. Academic Art and Writing Award
Academic awards in a wide range of categories—from critical essays to science fiction and fantasy—are the backbone of student competitions. Each category has its own rules and word count, so be sure to check out the options before deciding which one is best for your students.
How to participate
Students in grades 7-12, ages 13 and up, can begin submitting assignments in September, uploading to Scholastic’s online account and connecting to their local area. The registration fee is waived for students in need.
2.YoungArts National Art Competition
YoungArts hosts annual national competitions in categories including creative nonfiction, fiction, drama or screenplay, poetry, short stories, and spoken word. Student winners may receive awards of up to $10,000 and the opportunity to engage in artistic development with leaders in their fields.
How to participate
Check out the site for guidance on writing modes like short stories and spoken word poetry, and sign up for updates so you’re ready when applications open.
3. Future Scholars Foundation Short Story Contest
Each month’s contest has a different theme and offers Amazon gift cards and publications as prizes. It is open to elementary and middle school students.
How to participate
Check the site monthly for new topics. The deadline for submissions is the 28th of this month.
4. Write the World Writing Competition
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 participate
Young writers draft and submit their work on the site through student accounts.
5. National Youth Fund Project
This is a great opportunity for children to express their joy and strength in various competitions.
How to participate
Rules, prizes and deadlines vary, so please visit the website for more information.
6. U.S. Department of Foreign Affairs National High School Essay Competition
If you want to help your students gain a deeper understanding of international relations, history, and writing, this essay contest is for you. Winners will receive a cruise on the Semester at Sea program and a trip to Washington, D.C.
How to participate
Students fill out a registration form online and require a teacher or sponsor. The deadline for registration is March 1, 2026.
7. Kennedy Center’s Access/VSA Playwright Discovery Program
Each April during National Poetry Month, students can write letters to famous poets in response to their work. In this interactive competition, all submissions receive a generic letter and certificate, and winners receive a personalized response from the poet they wrote to. This is a great way to #TeachLivingPoets, where kids can ask questions about the creative process.
How to participate
Please apply online before January 7, 2026.
8. Profile of John F. Kennedy in the Courage Essay Contest
This annual competition invites students to write about an act of political courage by an elected official that occurred anytime after 1917, the year Kennedy was born. The winner received US$10,000, and the 16 runners-up also received various cash prizes.
How to participate
Students have until January 12 to submit an essay of 700 to 1,000 words. The paper must contain more than five sources and a complete bibliography.
9.WriteCause Contest
These free quarterly competitions accept a variety of written submissions, each based on a different quarterly theme. WriteCause also provides links to research so students can learn about the topics before writing. Open to children ages 13 to 18.
How to participate
Check out the Competition link for competition information for each quarter and use the online submission form.
10. Princeton Ten Minute Game Competition
Looking for a student writing competition looking for budding playwrights? This exclusive competition is open only to high school students and is judged by the Princeton University Theater Department. Students submit skits to win recognition and cash prizes of up to $500. (Note: Open to 11th grade students only.)
How to participate
Students submit a 10-page script online or by mail. The deadline will be announced later this year.
11. SPJ/JEA High School Essay Competition
Students respond to annual prompts about the importance of journalism and compete to win scholarships. The new theme will be announced on December 10th.
How to participate
Submission through JEA’s online portal costs $5.
12. The New York Times Micro-Memoir Contest
The competition is also a wonderful writing challenge, and The New York Times provides a wealth of resources and models to empower students to do their best work. They even created a classroom poster!
How to participate
Submissions must be submitted electronically by December 3, 2025.
13. The New York Times Student Competition Calendar
For students who want to write a memoir of more than 100 words, The New York Times also offers competitive opportunities in photography, opinion pieces, and podcasts.
How to participate
Find a student’s area of interest and review rules and deadlines on the website.
14. Patricia Groder Young Writers Poetry Award
The Patricia Groder Young Writers Poetry Prize is open to high school sophomores and juniors, with the winner receiving a full scholarship to the Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop.
How to participate
Submissions for this award will be accepted electronically from November 1 to November 30, 2025.
15. Jane Austen Society Essay Competition
High school students can win up to $1,000 and publication fees by submitting an essay on a topic related to Jane Austen’s novels as designated by the Jane Austen Society.
How to participate
Details of the 2026 competition will be announced this fall. Papers are six to eight pages in length, not including works cited.
16. Blank Theater Young Playwrights Festival Competition
The Blank Theater Young Playwrights Festival can be a life-changing experience. The winning play has been fully produced and the author is involved.
How to participate
Submit online or by mail by March 15, 2026.
17. A 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 and receive a $500 prize upon publication.
How to participate
Complete the online form and make sure you select the correct category for your age group.
18. Youth make new voices
Young writers under the age of 18 create new one-act plays for the stage. Winners will receive cash prizes and publications.
How to participate
Scroll all the way down their webpage for information about the contest, which accepts electronic submissions of non-musicals between 10 and 40 minutes in length. The registration period begins in January each year.
19. Ocean Awareness Competition
The theme for the 2026 Ocean Awareness Competition is “Your Story, Our Ocean,” encouraging students to explore the many ways the ocean sustains, protects and inspires us. Students are eligible for various awards of up to $1,000.
How to participate
Students aged 11 to 18 can submit works in the categories of art, creative writing, poetry and spoken word, film, interactive media and multimedia, or music and dance, along with reflections. 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. Sponsored by the Harvard Crimson, the student organization of Harvard University.
How to participate
Provide your information on the website and get the registration form via email.
21. NCTE Student Writing Award
The National Council of Teachers of English offers several student writing awards, including the Writing Achievement Award (for 10th and 11th grade students), the Promising Young Writer Award (for 8th grade students), and the Arts and Letters Magazine Award for Outstanding Achievement.
How to participate
The deadline is February 15th to July 31st. Please visit NCTE.org for more details.
22. High School Narrative Writing Competition
The theme for Narrative’s 11th annual writing contest is “One True Thing.” Stories are limited to 600 words, and children can also enter poetry of up to 50 lines. The website also provides different ideas and insights to help students understand the prompts.
How to participate
Students in grades 9 to 12 submit assignments through their teachers, who can submit up to 10 pieces of work. The submission period is from January 6 to February 4, 2026.
23. US vs HATE match
Engage social media-savvy students in this creative competition seeking messages of kindness, inclusion, and bridge-building.
How to participate
View informational posters on the website as well as guidance and ideas on how students can submit work. Deadline is February 27, 2026.
24. National Parent Teacher Association Reflection Award
The National Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) awards a variety of awards, including a literary award, in its annual Reflection Competition. Students of all ages can submit entries on designated topics to local PTA Reflections programs. From there, the winners will move to the local, state and national levels. National awards include $800 and the opportunity to attend the National PTA Convention.
How to participate
This plan needs to be submitted to the PTA participating in the plan. Check your school’s PTA for deadlines.
25. World Historian Student Essay Competition
The World Historian Student Essay Contest is an international competition open to students in grades K through 12 in public, private, and parochial schools and home study programs. The $500 prize is based on an article covering one of this year’s two tips.
How to participate
Students may submit entries by email or regular mail before the annual deadline of May 1.
