At Brighton Book Festival, we're all about making writers from underrepresented backgrounds the main event so we thought we'd share other ways to get your work out there if you don't fit the mainstream mould. The writing competitions we've curated below are searching specifically for diverse voices. Check them out and let us know how you get on - if you're longlisted, shortlisted or (gulp) win, we'd love to feature you on the Brighton Book Festival blog!
And before we plunge into the list, here's a quick reminder that if you don't place, it's a 'not this time' not a judgement on your writing. Competitions are subjective, get tons of entries, and what wins one year might not even have made the longlist the year before. So whatever happens, keeeeep writing! Your voice is needed.
Spring submissions
The FAB Prize
Focus: To welcome new creatives of colour into children’s publishing.
They say: "Every child deserves to see themselves in books, and in the authors and illustrators whose work they read. The FAB Prize aims to discover and showcase new talent, closing the gap between what is currently published and the reality for many families."
Eligibility: Entrants must be over 18, a UK or Ireland resident, and of Black, Asian or non-white global majority ethnic background. You must be previously unpublished. This does not include self-published authors and illustrators. Self-published entrants are eligible and encouraged to apply. Entries must be text or artwork for children or young adults (i.e. 1-18 years), not for adults.
Submit: 5,000 words max. Can be a sample of a longer work - though short stories are welcome too. Complete story if it is text for a picture book (should not be longer than 5,000 words).
Competition dates: Now closed for 2026 submissions Submissions closed March 2026.
First prize:
- A worldwide publishing contract.
- A free place on an online Faber Academy writing course.*
- Arranged and funded by BookTrust, the opportunity to shadow already established authors on virtual school visits.
- A behind-the-scenes BookTrust Represents weekend at Cheltenham Literary Festival (all expenses covered, this includes travel, two-night’s accommodation, meals, entrance to the festival and green-room access).
Second prize:
- £500 cash prize.
- Arranged and funded by BookTrust, the opportunity to shadow already established authors on virtual school visits.
Website: https://www.faber.co.uk/about-faber/the-fab-prize/
It Must Be Love: Modern Stories’ Romance Writing Competition
Focus: To uplift and support emerging romance writers from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic backgrounds.
They say: " If you’re writing a novel full of weak-at-the-knees meet-cutes, angsty unrequited pining, missed connections, and that moment where someone finally says ‘because I love you’, then this one’s for you."
Eligibility: Entrants must be unagented and previously unpublished, aged 18 or over, a resident in the UK, and from a Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic background.
Submit: Up to the first 5,000 words of the novel. A synopsis of the novel (up to 600 words).
Competition dates: Now closed for 2026 submissions
12th February 2026 – Submissions open
14th April 2026 – Submissions close
26th May 2026 – Longlist of sixteen announced
7th July 2026 – Shortlist of six announced
3rd September 2026 – Winner and two runners up announced
The prize:
- £1,000 cash prize
- A place on Curtis Brown Creative’s three-month online Writing Your Novel course
- Two editorial mentoring sessions with a Headline Eternal editor
- An introductory meeting with Curtis Brown literary agent Sheila Crowley
- A hamper of Headline Eternal romance books
Prizes also available for two runners up.
Website: https://www.thefuturebookshelf.co.uk/tfb-blog/2026/01/28/modern-stories-it-must-be-love-2026/
Common Ground x Gaia
Focus: Seeking a new voice in nature writing.
They say: "The Nature Prize has been a rare and wonderful source of empowerment, encouragement and inspiration. Now, more than ever before, I feel capable and compelled to create beyond my own restrictions."- Alisha Riley, winner of the 2024 prize
Eligibility: The author must self-identify as working class and must not have been previously commercially published digitally, in book form or in any form.
Submit: A previously unpublished piece of nature writing of any form in 1,000 words or less.
Fee: No fee
Competition dates: Now closed for 2026 submissions.
6th March - Competition opens
27th April - Competition closes
By 15th June - Shortlisted candidates notified
By 20th June - Shortlist announced
The prize: A commissioned piece in a nature-related outlet, two online masterclasses with Arvon and one online Arvon writing day, three one-hour mentoring sessions with a Gaia commissioner, one one-hour mentoring session with a literary agent, and a book bundle containing five books from the Company. Five runners-up will receive a book bundle containing five books from the Company.
Website: https://www.octopusbooks.co.uk/landing-page/common-ground-nature-writing-prize/
The Creative Future Writers’ Award
Focus: To celebrate poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction from underrepresented writers.
They say: "The Creative Future Writers’ Award is the only free to enter national competition for all underrepresented writers."
Eligibility: Entrants should be over 18, currently living in the UK, and from underrepresented backgrounds: Black, Asian, mixed heritage or other global majority background; Gypsy or Irish Traveler; Carers; Learning disabilities; LGBTQIA+; Mental health challenges; Neurodivergence; Physical disability/long-term limiting illness/sensory impairment; Survivors; Substance misuse issues; Working class background
You should have not yet secured a literary agent or published a book (or are under contract for publication), in creative non-fiction, fiction/YA or poetry.
Submit: Poetry (up to 50 lines), fiction or creative non-fiction pieces (up to 2000 words).
Fee: Free!
Competition dates: Now closed for 2026 submissions. 2 May 2026.
The prize:
Fifteen winners (5 winners in each category) will share:
- £25,000 worth of cash and development prizes
- be published in our anthology and eBook
- read at our showcase, part of the London Literature Festival 2026
- ongoing development support from Creative Future
Website: https://www.creativefuture.org.uk/news/our-annual-writers-award-is-open-for-entries-2026/
The Mo Siewcharran Prize
Focus: To discover unpublished fiction writers from Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic backgrounds.
They say: "The initiative, named in memory of NielsenIQ BookData’s former Director of Marketing and Communications, aims to nurture talent from under-represented backgrounds writing in English."
Eligibility: Entrants must be aged 18 or over, a UK resident and from a Black, Asian, mixed heritage and/or multiple ethnic background. You must also be unagented and unpublished at the point of submission.
Submit: A synopsis of the novel (up to 700 words). Up to the first 10,000 words of the novel. The novel must fit the commercial fiction sub-genres of either psychological thriller fiction or romance fiction (includes romantic comedy, romantasy, and historical romance).
Fee: None
Competition dates: Now closed for 2026 submissions.
2nd February 2026 – Submissions open
2nd May 2026 – Submissions close
15th June 2026 – Longlist announced
8th September 2026 – Shortlist announced
24th September 2026 – Winner announced at the awards ceremony
The prize:
£2,500 prize money plus:
- A 1000-word piece of editorial feedback;
- A one-hour follow-up online editorial session with a senior Bookouture editor;
- An introductory meeting with a literary agent;
- An interactive session (either in-person or online) with the Bookouture team about digital publishing;
- A hamper of Bookouture books.
The winner’s entry will also be taken forward to Bookouture’s acquisitions meeting and considered for full digital publication under our no advance 45% royalty model. Bookouture does not guarantee that the winner will be offered a publishing contract.
Prizes are also available for two runner-ups.
The SI Leeds Literary Prize
Focus: Unpublished fiction by Black and Asian women writers in the UK
They say: "Our aim is to act as a loudspeaker for fresh and original literary voices from an under-represented group, and to help them reach new audiences in mainstream culture."
Previous winners include: Maeve Clarke for Trapped Between Two Worlds (2024); Suad Kamardeen for Never Enough (2022); Wenyan Lu for The Funeral Cryer (2020); Kit de Waal (Readers' Choice Award) for Blue in Green (2014)
Eligibility: Black and Asian women writers aged 18 or over, based in the UK and writing fiction in English. More on eligibility.
Submit: Full manuscript, 500-word synopsis
Fee: £10 per entry. Free entry bursaries for writers on low income.
Competition dates: Now closed for 2026 submissions. This is a biennial prize and submissions for 2026 closed in May. Check back for 2028 details.
The prize: £4,000 plus a host of additional valuable benefits through the Prize’s unique Prize Plus writer development scheme, including a free place at an Arvon creative writing course; free manuscript assessment of their work from The Literary Consultancy and support from New Writing North.
Website: https://www.sileedsliteraryprize.com
Summer submissions
New Voices Award
Focus: To help discover unpublished psychology writers from Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage and Minority Ethnic backgrounds, as well as those who are disabled, gender diverse, part of the LGBTQIA+ community or from cultural or religious minorities.
They say: "The Robinson Psychology list publishes the very best evidence-based titles by expert authors in the fields of self-help and popular psychology."
Eligibility: Entrants must be aged 18 or over, a UK resident and from a Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage or Minority Ethnic background, or identify as disabled, gender diverse, part of the LGBTQIA+ community or from a cultural or religious minority. You must also be unagented and unpublished at the point of submission.
Submit: A brief description and overview of the proposed book of up to 500 words, a detailed chapter overview and a sample chapter of between 4000 and 5000 words.
Prize: An offer to publish with Robinson including an advance against royalties of at least £5000, plus:
- A detailed letter from a Robinson editor giving feedback on their entry, and a follow-up online mentoring session
- An introductory meeting with at least one literary agent
Fee: Free
Competition dates:
24th April 2026 – Submissions open
31st July 2026 – Submissions close
1st September 2026 – Shortlist selected
31st October 2026 – Winner announced
Website: https://www.thefuturebookshelf.co.uk/tfb-blog/2026/03/26/robinson-new-voices-award-2026/
Autumn submissions
The Sareeta Domingo Prize
Focus: To discover and support unpublished writers from Black and Global Majority backgrounds.
They say: "The prize has been created to honour the legacy of Sareeta Domingo, a much-admired editor and author, and a passionate champion of diverse stories and underrepresented voices, who passed away in 2025."
Eligibility: You must be aged 18 or over, a UK resident and from a Black or Global Majority background. You must also be unagented and unpublished at the point of submission. Full terms and conditions.
Submit: The first 5,000 words of your novel in progress. A full synopsis of the novel (up to 750 words) including the ending.
Fee: FREE
Competition dates:
21st September 2026 – Submissions close
16th November 2026 – Longlist announced (c. up to 16)
11th January 2027 – Shortlist announced (c. 8-10)
25th January 2027 – Winner announced at the awards ceremony
The prize:
- £2,500 prize money plus:
- 12 months of writing coaching from Dorothy Koomson
- A place on the Goldsboro Writing Academy Write Your Novel With Us course
- An offer of literary representation from literary agency David Higham Associates (with no obligation to accept)
- The winner’s entry will also be taken forward to Orion’s acquisitions meeting and considered for full publication with a competitive advance against royalties. Orion does not guarantee that the winner will be offered a publishing contract and if offered an agreement there will be no obligation to accept
- A copy of each of the four titles published on Sareeta’s List at Jacaranda Books
Prizes are also awarded to a highly commended entrant, and shortlisted entrants. See website for more details
Website: https://www.thefuturebookshelf.co.uk/tfb-blog/2026/05/29/welcome-to-the-sareeta-domingo-prize/
Did you know? Brighton Book Festival's own ambassador, Dorothy Koomson, founded this prize in association with Sareeta Domingo’s family, Hachette UK, Jacaranda Books and David Higham Associates.
The Bath Children’s Novel Award Sponsored Entry Scheme
Focus: The scheme provides free entry places for emerging writers on a low income. To date, almost a thousand writers have received sponsored places.
Eligibility: Sponsored (free) places are available to emerging writers* in receipt of:
Attendance Allowance; Bereavement Support Payment; Carer’s Allowance; Disability Living Allowance; Jobseeker’s Allowance; Housing Benefit; Pension Credit, Personal Independence Payment; Reduced Earnings Allowance; Severe Disablement Allowance; Universal Credit, or equivalent benefits if resident outside the UK, along with writers in full-time education.
If longlisted, writers will be need to provide evidence of their eligibility. All details will be kept entirely confidential.
* ’emerging authors‘ are defined as: unagented writers who are yet to accept an offer of publication (for a novel or children’s fiction book) which includes an advance (pre-publication) payment from their publisher.
Submit: YA novels; novels for teens; children’s novels; early readers; chapter books and the text of story picture books. Full manuscripts may be of any length. The opening of your book up to a maximum of 5,000 words, double-spaced in a size 12 font, followed by a one-page synopsis in a single-spaced size 12 font. For picture book text submissions, one entry can include the text of up to three books. More info here.
Fee: Free for eligible entrants. Usual fee £33 (including VAT) per novel or chapter book, or a submission of up to three picture book texts. You may enter as many times as you wish.
Competition dates: Sponsored entry applications are invited until 23:59 GMT on November 30th 2026. Longlisted entrants notified mid-December 2026; shortlisted authors emailed by February 2027.
Prize: £5,000. In addition, The writer of the most promising longlisted novel or book gets a free place on the 18 week online course Edit Your Novel the Professional Way.
Website: https://bathnovelaward.co.uk/the-bath-childrens-novel-award-sponsored-entry-scheme/
More inclusive writing competitions
This is not a comprehensive list of writing competitions that help raise the profile of those who might otherwise struggle to get their voices heard. We will add to it as often as we can but please help us out by sharing any competitions you come across.
Some of the competitions we've mentioned have closed submissions for this year but most will run annually or every two years so it's always worth checking back. If you see we've listed one that is gone for good, do let us know and we'll remove it - we don't want you to waste any valuable writing time :)
So for now, the only thing left to say is... Get writing and good luck!