2026 Wells Festival of Literature Competitions
2026 Wells Festival of Literature Competitions is now open for entries!
Wells Festival of Literature recently has announced an international writing competition in its 2026 edition inviting entries worlwide in the categories Open Poetry, Short Stories and Book for Children.
Short description
Wells Festival of Literature recently has announced an international writing competition in its 2026 edition inviting entries worlwide in the categories Open Poetry, Short Stories and Book for Children.
Categories:
➜ Open Poetry Competition
Poems may be on any subject.
Poems must not exceed 40 lines of text in length.
➜ Short Story Competition
Stories may be on any subject.
Stories should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words in length.
➜ Book for Children Competition
The competition will judge writing for children, age 7 and up. This includes writing for young adults.
You may submit either the first three chapters or first thirty pages, whichever is the shortest, together with the synopsis of up to two pages.
➜ Young Poets Competition
Entrants must be aged between 16 and 22 (inclusive).
Poems may be on any subject.
Poems must not exceed 40 lines of text in length.
All entries must be in English.
At the time of entry, the work submitted must not have been entered into any other competition and must not have been published in any format or location.
Note! Entries are invited from 1 April 2026 until 30 June 2026 in the categories Open Poetry, Short Stories and Book for Children.
There is a longer entry period for Young Poets - from 1 April 2026 until 31 July 2026.
Winners will be announced at a celebratory event at 2pm on 19 October 2026 at Cedars Hall, the Festival venue in Wells. The achievements of all entrants will be publicly recognised at a poetry reading and a prize-giving ceremony where the winners will receive prizes totalling £5,000 between them. There are also special prizes for local winners.
Eligibility
The competitions are open to everyone.
Prize
➜ Open Poetry Competition
First prize: £1000
Second prize: £500
Third prize: £250
➜ Short Story Competition
First prize: £750
Second prize: £300
Third prize: £200
➜ Book for Children Competition
First prize: £750
Second prize: £300
Third prize: £200
➜ Young Poets Competition
First prize: £200
Second prize: £150
Third prize: £100
Entry fees
➜ Open Poetry Competition: £8 per entry
➜ Short Story Competition: £8 per entry
➜ Book for Children Competition: £8 per entry
➜ Young Poets Competition: £3 per entry
