Space & Time Magazine: Light the Beacons
Space & Time publishes speculative flash fiction and poetry. They now have monthly themes, and you can submit during the first week of every month. During the May submission period, the theme is Light the Beacons. “We seek boundary-breaking speculative work with fiction and poetry that disrupts, illuminates, and transforms. We welcome genre-blending stories that combine horror, science fiction, and fantasy into a compelling whole.
We also accept submissions in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Italian for translation into English.”
Deadline: 7 May 2026
Length: Up to 1,000 words for fiction, up to 35 lines for poetry
Pay: $0.01/word for fiction, $5 for poetry
Details here.

(Submissions are also open for Longer Worlds, an anthology for science fiction and fantasy novelettes and novellas, between 7,500 and 25,000 words; they pay $50, and the deadline is 15^th May 2026.)

#EnbyLife Journal: Lineage
They want submissions from non-binary and gender diverse creatives only. They want work on the Lineage theme - poetry, microfiction (under 100 words), and art. They also accept reprints.
Deadline: 7 May 2026
Length: Up to 2 pieces
Pay: AUD30
Details here.

Blood Clot! Revolution
Blood Clot! Magazine accepts work from BIPOC writers only. They want fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. “This issue’s theme is REVOLUTION—revolutions of the mind, body, society, nature, and technology.” For fiction and poetry, they want works “that explore the personal cost
and existential dread that come with fighting a monolithic power. Nightmare fuel for thought:

• The monstrous transformations—physical, psychological, spiritual—that
  revolution demands.
• Ghosts of failed uprisings, reborn.
• The tormentor becoming the tormented.

Make us scream. Make us think. Make us dream--for better, or worse.” And for nonfiction, “We want personal essays that examine how regime change, foreign interference, displacement, or conflict shape a writer’s perspective, craft, or voice. Share critical reflections on these forces.” They also accept reprints.
Deadline: 12 May 2026
Length: 100-1,200 words for fiction, 800-1,000 words for nonfiction, 100-150 words for poetry
Pay: $5-25; they also offer a $50 prize for the best story
Details here.

Scryptid Games: Tales from the Cryptids Anthology
This is a games, fiction, poetry, and ephemera anthology. “From Scryptid Games, this anthology of games, fiction, poetry, and other ephemera flips the lens on conventional cryptid lore. In this book, cryptids are beings with vivid lives, goals, and stories of their own to share. We are more interested in thoughtful tales of transformation, self-discovery, and embedded interrogation than stories centering cryptid hunting, categorization, or collection. … For the purpose of this anthology, cryptids are beings of real or imagined folklore who “could be real” and exist on the fringes of our world. We welcome thoughtful submissions featuring documented cryptids like Bigfoot, Mothman, and Nessie, and we also love new takes on cryptids and creative reflections on the wondrous in the everyday. Could a cryptid be a song, a memory, an entire town? We are excited to read expansive, imaginative perspectives on this theme.”
And, “we are keen to acquire TTRPGs and other narrative games that embody a sense of the liminal. … For fiction and poetry, we want cryptid content that prioritizes the agency of liminal beings, places, and experiences. Your work does not need to feature a cryptid protagonist or an optimistic point-of-view, but your monsters must have agency and depth. 
We are also interested in micro-submissions of uncanny ephemera to literally occupy the margins of this book. Send us cryptid scribbles, doodles, haikus, photographs, and other 2D marginalia. Even we don’t quite know what we want in this category. Surprise us.” They also accept reprints. They will stay open until the deadline, or till they hit a submission cap in each category. The anthology has been funded on BackerKit.
Deadline: 15 May 2026, or until filled
Length: Up to 1,000 words for fiction and games, up to 3 poems
Pay: $0.10/word for original fiction and games, $50 for original poems, $25 for ephemera
Details here and here.

Flash Fiction Online: Paranormal Noir
They have extended their submission window for the themed call, and have also opened a submission window for (unthemed) translations and reprints. They want speculative flash fiction on the Paranormal Noir theme, stories “that marry the noir and paranormal aesthetic in any speculative genre. … “Isn’t Paranormal Noir just a subset of Urban Fantasy?”
It can be, but we’d love to see a new, fresh take on old themes. 

• Vampires in space, doing crime? Sure! 
• Far-future consciousness transfer-hauntings? Send them our way! 
• Sad wizard investigates a murder in LA? Okay, sounds cool, submit that, but also what if he were on Mars instead?
• A group of West Virginia moonshiners firebombing a haunted A.I. data center?”

They also welcome stories from unique points of view. Also see the kind of stories they do not want.
Deadline: 15 May 2026, or until filled (extended) for themed fiction, 30 May 2026 for translations and reprints
Length: 500-1,000 words
Pay: $100 for originals, $36 for reprints
Details here.

Screaming Scorpion Press: Sinister Soiree – A Celebration Horror Anthology
This is a fiction anthology. They want “horror stories involving celebrations: birthdays, graduations, weddings, baby showers, bachelorette parties, etc.-just nothing attached to a specific holiday”. This press does not have a website yet, you can see the post on Instagram.
Deadline: 15^th May 2026
Length: 2,000-5,000 words
Pay: $20
Details here (Instagram post)

(--Submissions are also open for Extremely Weird Splatter anthology by Horrific Scribblings; “an anthology of stories that highlight the awesome potential released when extreme aesthetics and splatter savvy fuse with weird that leaves “grounded” behind”; they will pay $0.08/word for horror, extreme / splatterpunk, Weird stories of 1,500-5,000 words, and the deadline is 15^th May 2026; please note, payment and publication are contingent on their Kickstarted being funded.

--Submissions are open for Childhood Fears anthology as well by Cardboard Coffin Press; they want horror stories with kids as main characters, finding themselves in scary situations. They pay $30 for stories of 2,500-7,000 words; will also send contributor copies to US contributors. R rated only, no extreme horror. Deadline 31^st May 2026.)

In a Flash: Goodbyes
In a Flash is a Substack-based literary magazine and they publish one piece of themed flash nonfiction a month. For May 2026, the theme is Goodbyes. Send a creative nonfiction piece of up to 500 words on this theme. The submission period for each month’s theme is from the 1^st to the 15^th of that month. Do not send work outside of the reading period. And, “We’ll also spotlight the author with a Q&A section.”
Deadline: 15 May 2026
Length: Up to 500 words
Pay: $25
Details here (general guidelines) and here (theme for this and coming months). 

Pinhole Poetry
They want poetry for their themed issue. “The July 2026 issue will be all about subways, undercurrents, subtext and undertows, basically anything that moves us, somewhere under the surface. Send us up to five of your best poems that fit the theme by May 15th!” They have detailed guidelines about the kind of poems they like. They also accept photography.
Deadline: 15^th May 2026
Length: Up to 5 poems
Pay: CAD5
Details here.

Inkd Publishing: Two themes
They want submissions for two fiction anthologies. Both stories have to be submitted via different submission forms on their website. US authors also get a contributor copy – see guidelines.
-- Beyond 2026: A science fiction anthology: “Express yourself as the theme moves you. There is no restriction as to how you incorporate the theme into your story.” Deadline: 15 May 2026.
-- Beyond the Red Line: “The act of redlining is born of segregationist ideologies from financial institutions to prevent services like healthcare, credit and insurance from being provided fairly to Black and Brown residents, cutting them off, and its practices continue to haunt the majority of us today from a socioeconomic standpoint. Through it all, we persist, but in these stories, location has NEVER stopped supernatural horrors or unknown anomalies….
Show us the past, present, and future across the red ink rivers of blood, sweat, and tears that carve throughout different lands across the country and even, the world in its different forms and names.
Horror, science fiction, and dark fantasy short stories that are told from the other side of town, where haunted, million dollar mansions don’t exist. We’re not looking for hauntings behind ornate doors with gilded knobs. We’re looking for time traveling public transit. The failed gentrification of haunted halfway houses. The home loan that takes more than you bargained for in the fine print…
What cryptid slithers around the grounds of the trailer park taking cigarettes and souls? 
Do aliens browse for human specimens in your apartment complex? 
What evil grand wizard cursed the land you live in, poisoning the air and creating food deserts in your communities?
What tales lie across the tracks and Beyond the Red Line?” Deadline: 30 June 2026
Deadlines: See above
Length: 2,000-6,000 words for each anthology
Pay: $10 + royalty share
Details here  (Scroll down for Beyond 2026)

Calendar of Fools: Missed-Fits Anthology
They want speculative fiction that is of odd length, stories which are too long for flash and too short for most short fiction magazines. Stories must also have “have an element of someone or something that doesn’t fit, that is missing, that is out of place.” Submission is via a form.
Deadline: 16 May 2026
Length: 1,200-2,100 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.

Griffith Review: Out of Office
Griffith Review is an Australian literary magazine and they want fiction and nonfiction submissions for issue 94; the theme is Out of Office. “Most of us will spend a dispiriting 90,000 hours of our lives at work. That’s a third of the average lifespan; no wonder so many of us want to stick it to the man. Love it or hate it, how we spend our working hours – whether for ourselves, for our families or for a faceless corporation – can have a profound influence on our self-worth, our social circles, and our sense of purpose and identity. But where did work come from? What rights should our employers have to circumscribe our speech? What’s the role of unions in the twenty-first century? Why don’t we have a universal basic income? How do we separate our jobs from our selves? And whatever happened to the four-hour work week?
This edition of Griffith Review clocks in for another day at the coalface.”
They mostly accept work from writers in Australia, and some work from overseas writers. Do not send poetry; they will issue a separate poetry call in late June.
Deadline is 17 May 2026 (11:59 pm AEST)
Length: Up to 4,000 words for prose
Pay: AUD0.75/word
Details here and here

Saros Speculative Fiction: Breaking the Mold
They want speculative fiction submissions on the theme, Breaking the Mold. “Nature made him, and then broke the mold. In the eighty-forth stanza of the tenth canto of the Orlando Furioso, Ludovico Ariosto gave the world a new idiom. For issue six of Saros, we want your stories of breaking the mold––of the idiosyncratic, of processes new and unrepeatable, of things so novel that there’s no going back.” They will also accept pitches (not submissions) of nonfiction/essays. Fiction submission is via their Moksha portal.
Deadline: 17 May 2026
Length: 1,000-2,500 words for fiction
Pay: CAD33
Details here.

Cat Eye Press: Don’t Go for the Vault – A Bank Robbery Horror Anthology
This is a fiction anthology. They want “horror stories involving bank robberies. While the title for the anthology is “Don’t Go for the Vault,” we want characters who do exactly that. We want to see what you have hidden behind that giant metal door. Give us a reason to heed this legendary piece of bank robbery advice.  

Stories can take place in any time period and do not need to occur exclusively within the confines of a bank. The three main requirements for stories are:

• Story must involve a bank robbery;
• Story must mention or include a bank vault door being opened; AND
• Story must have horror elements (either inside or outside the vault).

While these requirements may seem simple, we encourage you to think outside the box.” They also accept reprints. They close on 20^th May for general submissions from all writers, and have an extended submission window for BIPOC, 2SLGBTQ+, Disabled, Neurodiverse, and other underrepresented voices till end-May.
Deadline: 20 May 2026 for all writers; 21^st May-31^st May for underrepresented writers
Length: 1,500-4,500 words
Pay: $0.05/word for originals
Details here.

Free the Verse: If you say so
They want poetry on the theme, ‘If you say so’. Do not make this the title of your poem (see guidelines). Submission is via a form. 
Deadline: 25 May 2026
Length: One poem
Pay: $10
Details here.

DILIM Press: DILIM Anthology of Dark Fiction from the Philippine Diaspora – Galleon Dreaming 
They want stories with a connection to the Philippines or Filipino diaspora. “Volume I: Galleon Dreaming explores the trade era and how the legacies of colonization continue to shape our island chain.
Aswang, ghostly sailors, and ocean creatures navigate their own journeys between displacement and a sense of belonging.

We are seeking short stories and poems that explore your ideas and thoughts about how to bridge the abyss between our past and future, how we carry our belongings and our dreams to distant shores, and how we know what’s inside of our own unique box of treasures-literal and metaphorical-what do we most value now and always?” They want short stories in the following genres: historical fiction, magical realism, fantasy, science fiction, horror, adventure, mystery, or up to 5 poems. Send fiction up to 7,000 words, or poetry up to 5,000 words. They also accept reprints (see guidelines). And, “We send North America and Philippines-based writers two print copies of the final work.” Galleon Dreaming is their inaugural anthology. They have other anthologies listed too – Siren’s Song, deadline 30^th September 2026, and Under the Volcano, deadline 28^th February 2027.
Deadline: 30 May 2026, or when filled, for Galleon Dreaming
Length: See above
Pay: $0.07/word for originals
Details here, here, and here.

(-- And, Sine Theta Magazine wants submissions on the "VAST 大” theme from writers of the Sino diaspora only; they accept prose, poetry, translations, and art, and pay $10. The deadline is 17^th May 2026.

-- Submissions are also open for Thyme Travelers 2: An anthology of speculative fiction by Palestinian writers; “This anthology is open to writers who identify as Palestinian. This includes all Palestinians living anywhere in the world, and of any race. Authors from marginalized groups are encouraged to submit.” Payment is $0.08/word for stories up to 5,000 words. The deadline is 31 August 2026.)

Shacklebound Books: Witches & Warlocks
They want exactly 100-word stories (excluding the title) on the theme, Witches & Warlocks. They want dark fantasy stories for this digital and print anthology; authors receive a cash fee and a digital copy.
Deadline: 31 May 2026
Length: 100 words
Pay: $5
Details here (scroll down) 

Heartlines Spec
This Canadian magazine of speculative fiction and poetry wants work on long-term relationships; their goal us to publish at least 50% work from Canadian writers for each issue. “We're looking for short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. We don't want the blaze of new love or the obsession of a new friend. We want pieces that show that comfort that develops when people know each other for years.
Give us deep space, dusty frontiers, or dreamy fantasy. We want stories and poetry with strong, confident relationships amid all the sci-fi/fantasy. While we are primarily looking for stories with happy endings (yeah, yeah), we also want endings that are earned. If things get a little teary or gory, that's ok.
We are especially interested in stories featuring queer platonic relationships, ace/aro love stories, and polycules.”
Deadline: 31 May 2026
Length: 500-3,500 words for fiction; up to 5 poems
Pay: CAD0.08/word for fiction; CAD60/poem
Details here (guidelines) and here (submission portal)

Qwerty Magazine: Post and Beam (The Architecture Issue)
They’re open for fiction, poetry, and art for their 30^th anniversary issue. “We've lain the cornerstone. Now we build the house. In this special issue commemorating our 30th anniversary, we want your stories, poems, and otherwise artistic interpretations on the theme of dark architecture and pseudoarchaeology. The connection is closer than you think: chances are the chill summer enclosure on your back deck was built with the same basic principle as Stonehenge: post and beam construction. We're not looking for any old office building—no perfect beachfront property. We want your weird little crawlspaces. We want your five-and-a-half-minute hallways and backrooms. We want your unknowable ancient monuments that might be instruments for giants. Send us your doors found ajar, dwelling and liminality, flash fiction found on street signs and graffiti, and literal concrete poetry. Over the last 30 years, we have built a lasting little nook behind the cracks of the Poets' Corner—our own typeface Fraggle Rock. Let this issue be a testament to the weird: an architecture you don't so much digest as suck it down.”
Qwerty is published by graduate students in Fredericton, New Brunswick. They accept work via Submittable.
Deadline: 31^st May 2026
Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose, up to 6 pages of poetry
Pay: $15
Details here and here.

Kirby: Reborn
This is a new second-world fantasy fiction magazine. The editor wants “Immersive, fully realised worlds shaped by original histories, mythologies, cultures, and internal logic. I am particularly drawn to: Strong narrative voice / Emotional consequence / Worldbuilding that feels lived-in / Stories that trust the reader”. They are reading submissions for their first issue, and the theme is Reborn. The editor is a filmmaker. Works can also be potentially adapted and released as a podcast narration. Submission is via a form.
Deadline: 31 May 2026
Length: 300–1,000 words for flash fiction; 2,500–7,500 words for short fiction
Pay: £0.05/word and “Further royalties if adapted/Industry norms”Details here and here.

Zombies Need Brains: Were-2 Anthology
This is a fiction anthology. “It’s the night of the full moon, but there are more than mere werewolves skulking the streets. In WERE-2, we return to the back alleys in the dead of night to discover what other were-creatures might see you as prey. A were-raven? Were-squirrel? Were-octopus? You won’t know until you hear that rustle of feathers next to your ear or smell the brine of the sea in that gust of wind from the window. Writers are asked to give us their most creative were-creature, with only one rule: No werewolves allowed!” And, “WERE-2 is to feature urban fantasy stories where the story revolves around were-creatures other than werewolves. Werewolves are permitted in the story, but they cannot be the main focus of the story. We are open to other genres involving were-creatures, such as science fiction, fantasy, steampunk, etc., although the main focus will be urban fantasy. As always, we are looking for a range of tones, from humorous all the way up to dark.”
Deadline: 31 May 2026
Length: Up to 7,500 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.  

Adi Magazine
They are now open for poetry submissions. Their tagline is ‘Rehumanizing policy’. They have detailed guidelines, including, “Adi is thinking about alternative political visions for a world in desperate need of them. We are living through a moment of acute political, social, economic, and environmental retrenchment across the globe, and it’s hard not to succumb to a feeling of powerlessness. But we know that, as Saidiya Hartman has shared, “So much of the work of oppression is policing the imagination.” 

So at Adi we are giving our imaginations free rein to combat political ennui and nihilism. We know that narratives themselves have power: the ability to build alliances and strategies, the capacity to foster hope for change, and the power to remake the ways we understand our world in the past, present, and future.” They are open for poetry submissions in May, and are also open for pitches (not submissions) of essays, interviews, and translations on an ongoing basis. Fiction is closed.
Deadline: 31 May 2026 for poetry submissions
Length: Up to 5 poems (see guidelines)
Pay: $150 per poem
Details here and here.  

Mslexia: Gold
They accept submissions by women-identified authors only, of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, pitches, and fun projects. For fiction and poetry featuring in Mslexia Showcase, they want work on the Gold theme: “Let your mind dwell on glinting nuggets, necklaces, filigree and rings.”
They also have interesting sections in each genre; for instance in fiction, they have a section called The World’s Wife, in which they want a fictional prose monologue in the voice of the wife, mistress, sister, daughter, mother of a famous real or fictional person. Some of their submission sections are for subscribers only, and a few are closed, but many of them are open to all writers.
Deadline: 8^th June 2026 for the showcase theme; varies for others
Length: Varies
Pay: £30 (see here)
Details here (scroll down and click on various sections/genres).

Cracked Anvil Press: Off the Broken Path – Dark Tales of Enchanted Forests
They want stories featuring enchanted forests for this anthology. “Tell us tales of enchanted forests. Stories filled with grit and gore. Tales of warning and woe. And if your story ends happily… make sure your characters bleed for it.

We like to be surprised. Excited. Engaged. Preferring short, compact prose to long, drudgy sentences. Stories that move quickly, with subtle set ups and brutal pay offs.” Regarding genre / theme, they want “Fantasy. Grimdark. Horror. With enchanted forests taking a central role in the story. (With a preference for fantasy settings.)”
Deadline: 15 June 2026
Length: 1,000-5,000 words (can accept shorter or longer – see guidelines)
Pay: $5
Details here.

Campfire Publishing: Savagery on the Salty Seas
They want maritime-themed horror stories for this call.

The ocean has long been a place of mystery, haunted by the brutality of colonizers, voyages that never arrived at port, the often-fatal whims of pirates, and shrouded in the shadows of mythology and folklore.

Campfire Publishing is keeping its eye out for a wide range of chilling voices that anchor us in tales of horror on the high seas from seasoned to novice, we LOVE publishing and supporting newer writers!

We want twists and turns, thrills and chills; We never want to look at the ocean the same way again!”
Deadline: 15 June 2026
Length: “10,000 (can be slightly higher or lower, but stories 7,500 words and under may not be considered.)”
Pay: $50
Details here.

(Submissions are also open for the Mertails Anthology
by Transcendent Fiction Publishing; they have detailed guidelines, including, “Mertails is an anthology about merfolk - traditional mermaids or something a little more exotic. Stories can be of any genre, so long as the primary characters are merfolk of some aspect. The stories can be urban fantasy, high fantasy, or for those bold enough, the editor would love to see some sci-fi takes.” This call is open to all writers. Pay is AUD0.01/word for stories of 2,000-10,000 words; the deadline is 30 June 2026; details here.) 

Book Worms Horror Zine: Summer edition
They want fiction, nonfiction, and poetry for their 11^th issue. “Pack your poisonous bug spray, your Blair Witch map, and your messiest mess kit—then join us for our campiest issue yet!

This summer, Book Worms Horror Zine is heading to camp, and we want your creepiest, campiest horror stories to share around the fire. We’re talking classic summer scares like Friday the 13th, Sleepaway Camp, and The Evil Dead—but don’t be afraid to blaze your own twisted trail. Conjure a new type of monster crawling up from the pond scum, turn a Kumbaya sing-along into an alien abduction, or dream up something so strange and disturbing we’ll never leave home again.” Please note, submissions by all authors (barring those they have previously published) have to be mailed (see guidelines).
Deadline: 15 June 2026 (must be received by this date)
Length: Up to 1,500 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.

Tundra Swan Press: Earth Resists and Reclaims (eco-horror anthology). Also see details Earth Resists and Reclaims. They pay $50 for stories of 2,000-6,000 words; deadline 15^th June 2026.

The Truth We Carry: An Anthology of Survivor Voices
“The anthology is focused on publishing creative work from survivors of domestic abuse and sex trafficking. While survivorship and/or lived experience with abuse or exploitation is a prerequisite to being published with The Truth We Carry, and we do expect submissions to deal with some aspect of being a survivor, your submission does not have to be autobiographical, and it can be fiction. The consistent element we look for an “aha!” moment about the survivor experience.”  And, “Please note: We aim for ~75% of published work to be from Maine survivors.” They will accept submissions till 30^th June 2026, or until they meet their submission cap, whichever is earlier.
Deadline: 30 June 2026, or until filled
Length: Up to 3,000 words preferred
Pay: $100
Details here and here.

Thema: Waiting in Line
They publish three themed issues a year. They accept short stories, essays, poetry, and art. Their upcoming theme is ‘Waiting in Line’. They have other themes too, with other deadlines. They also accept reprints. Only writers outside of the US can submit by email, US-based writers have to post their submissions.
Deadline: 1 July 2026 (see guidelines)
Length: Up to 20 pages for fiction, up to 3 poems
Pay: $10-25
Details here.

Zoetic Press: Nonbinary Review (Films theme) is scheduled to open during May; they want speculative fiction, nonfiction and poetry. They pay. Their submission portal had yet to open at the time of writing. Details Nonbinary Review · submit.

Poetry Foundation: Remembrances and This Be the Place columns
Poetry Foundation is looking for pitches (not submissions) for two of their prose columns, by poets:
-- This Be the Place: In "This Be the Place," poets explore the mysteries and meaning of a particular place. Subjects should be specific, personal, and unexpected (not your home or an entire city, for example, but somewhere in that city that matters to you). Essays in this series are generally 600-1,000 words.” You can read essays in that column here (click on This Be the Place).
-- Remembrances: “Essays in the "Remembrances" series pay tribute to poets who have died in the past year. Generally, they should be written by someone who personally knew the poet who died and can speak to them as a person (rather than just speaking about their poetry). Examples: Kevin Prufer on Russell Atkins and Philip Metres on Lev Rubinstein. We are open to exceptions, such as tributes for notable people who are not always thought of as poets, such as the piece we ran on Kris Kristofferson. Essays in this series are generally 1,000-1,200 words.” You can read essays in that column here (click on Remembrances).
They pay $700 for This Be the Place (700-1,000 words) and $1,000 for Remembrances (1,200-1,500 words). Pitching is via a form.
(Poetry Foundation also runs Poetry Magazine, which is accepting submissions for a special Chicago-themed issue; contributors must be living in / have lived in Chicago; see guidelines. The deadline for the Chicago issue is 15^th May, and they close to general/unthemed submissions on 15^th June 2026. Poetry Magazine pays $500 per text and visual poem, $600 per video poem, and $400 for essays about poetry. Details here and here.)

-- RBC PEN Canada New Voices Award: For new Canadian writers, ages 17 and over; unpublished writers (see guidelines) “are encouraged to submit short stories, creative nonfiction, scripts, journalism, and poetry collections.” Prize: CAD3,000 and mentorship;
Deadline: 7 May 2026; Details here and here.

-- RTÉ Short Story Competition: A fiction contest from RTÉ Radio 1, for those who live in Ireland, or have an Irish passport. Stories must be 1,800-2,000 words. All 10 winning/shortlisted stories will be broadcast. Prizes: €5,000, €4,000 and €3,000; the other shortlisted authors will each receive €300; Deadline: 15 May 2025; Details here (see various tabs) and here.

-- Tiny Weird Objects Residency: An Ireland-based residency. “The Dock is seeking expressions of interest for Tiny Weird Projects, a mini-residency for writers who need time and space to work through fledgling ideas.
Through a simple submission process, writers can apply for a Monday-to-Friday stay in a self-catering apartment by the River Shannon. This is a self-directed residency, however writers can propose an optional public reading, talk, or other event at The Dock with team support during their stay.” They cover the cost of accommodation, a daily stipend of €20/day, and an artist’s fee for the optional public event of €250. There’s no travel stipend. Deadline: 16 May 2026; Details here and here.

-- Haiku Commentary: George Klacsanzky Memorial Haiku Contest
This is their inaugural Haiku contest. Submission is via a form on their website. Prizes: $100, $75, $50; three honorable mentions of $25 each; Deadline: 31 May 2026; Details here.

-- The Heron’s Nest: Peggy Willis Lyles Haiku Awards: This poetry contest is run by The Heron’s Nest, a quarterly online journal of haiku. Submit up to 2 haiku for this contest. Prizes: $200, $100, $50;
Deadline: 1 June 2026; Details here.

-- The Novel Prize: “This is a biennial award for a book-length work of literary fiction written in English by published and unpublished writers around the world. ….The Novel Prize is managed by the three publishers working in collaboration … Writers based in Asia and Oceania which includes Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia) should submit to Giramondo. Writers based in the Americas should submit via New Directions; and writers based in Africa and Europe should submit to Fitzcarraldo Editions.” Award is $10,000 and publication; Deadline: 1 June 2026; Details here (Giramondo), here (Fitzcarraldo), and here (New Directions)

-- The Bard Fiction Prize: An annual fiction prize for young US-based writers. “The Bard Fiction Prize is awarded to a promising emerging writer who is an American citizen aged 39 years or younger at the time of application. In addition to a $30,000 cash award, the winner receives an appointment as writer in residence at Bard College for one semester, without the expectation that he or she teach traditional courses. The recipient gives at least one public lecture and meets informally with students.” Also, “To apply, candidates should write a cover letter explaining the project they plan to work on while at Bard and submit a CV, along with three copies of the published book they feel best represents their work. No manuscripts will be accepted.” Deadline: 1 June 2026; Details here.

Creative Futures Writers’ Award
This is for writers of underrepresented backgrounds (see eligibility here) in the UK. Send one piece of writing - a poem (up to 50 lines), fiction (up to 2,000 words), or creative non-fiction (up to 2,000 words). “The theme for 2026 is ‘Material.’ The theme is a creative prompt, not a requirement.” You can enter online (deadline 5^th May) or if submitting by post, your work must reach by 6^th May 2026.
Value: £75, £50, £25 in each genre 
Deadline: See above
Open for: Underrepresented writers in the UK
Details here.

The British Society of Magazine Editors:  BSME Young Writers’ Prize
This is for UK residents aged 18-25 from across the UK. No previous experience is needed. “Submit a short piece of original writing based on the subject of ‘something you love’. This could be a feature, review, opinion piece, a column, personal essay or a fun piece of creative writing based on your life experience or a news event or a topic that interests you. We are looking for writing that comes from a real place — your experience, your opinion, your obsession with something in the news or just in life. Voice-led, specific, yours.” Apart from a cash prize, winner also gets mentorship and work experience placement with a UK magazine or online publication; top 10 runners-up get work experience opportunity or mentoring; the top 20 runners-up will be invited to an online seminar. Entry is via a form.
Value: £12,000
Deadline: 8 May 2026
Open for: Young UK residents
Details here.

Livingston Press Changing Light Prize for a Novel-in-Verse
This is an annual prize run by Livingston Press, affiliated with the University of Alabama. It is for a novel-in-verse; the recommended length is 90-160 pages.
Value: $500, standard contract, 20 copies
Deadline: 25 May 2026
Open for: Unspecified
Details here. 

Humane Education Network: A Voice for Animals
“The Humane Education Network and the Animal Welfare Institute are excited to present the 36th annual A Voice for Animals Contest for high schoolers across the globe. Our contest is an exciting opportunity to make a difference for animals and possibly get rewarded in the process.” It is open for students in two categories: for 14-15-year-olds, and for 16-18-year-olds (see guidelines). “Participants are invited to submit an essay or video entry that addresses either the mistreatment of one animal species or one cause of animal suffering; or the preservation of one endangered species, occurring anywhere in the world, and potential solutions to alleviate animal suffering. The entry should fall into one of the following categories: Companion Animals, Farm Animals, Wildlife on Land, Wildlife in the Oceans, Insects/Invertebrates, or this year's special category: The Endangered Species Act. You will need to choose one of these when you submit your entry..” Participants must currently be attending middle or high school, or be home-schooled, and less than 19 years of age (see guidelines). Entries can be essays or videos. They have detailed guidelines.
Value: Unspecified
Deadline: 25 May 2026
Open for: All 14 to 18 year old students
Details here and here (download rules)

The Irene Adler Prize
The Irene Adler Prize winner will receive a $1,000 US scholarship. The competition is open to women from any country, commencing or continuing to pursue a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D degree in journalism, creative writing, or literature at a recognized post-secondary institution in 2026-27. One of the application requirements is a 500-word essay on one of these five prompts on the website:
-- Illustrate what you have learned and gained from meeting a person (or people) from another culture.

-- What development in recent history makes you most optimistic about the future of women?

-- Describe the most unforgettable dream – asleep or awake – you have ever had.

-- Write a fictional short story with a female protagonist and a dramatic twist ending.

-- Show what the rise of women’s sports worldwide means through non-fiction storytelling.

The prize is intended to be applied to educational expenses such as tuition fees – please see the rules.
Value: $1,000; up to two prizes of $250 each
Deadline: 30 May 2026
Open for: Women writers
Details here (download 2026 submission guidelines and rules).

CNO Naval History Essay Contest – Rising Historian
This contest is supported by the US Naval Institute and commemorates “the enduring legacy of America’s Navy and the 250th anniversary of our Nation. As the Navy continues to operate at a strategic inflection point, this contest provides an opportunity to reflect on our history, deepen our understanding of the present, and strengthen the intellectual readiness required for the future fight.” Their website says, “The CNO invites entrants to submit essays that apply lessons from throughout naval history to solving today's Navy challenges.” See guidelines for details on the theme. Essays have to be up to 3,500 words. This contest is open to: professional historians (including history museum curators, archivists, history teachers/professors, persons with history-related doctoral degrees; authors of books on naval history (not including self-published works); civilians who have published articles in an established historical or naval journal or magazine. They invite essays for various other prizes as well, with different deadlines – see here.
Value: $5,000 and $2,500
Deadline: 30 May 2026
Open for: See above
Details here and here.

(Also see the Veterans’ Contest, run by The Iowa Review; it is for US military veterans and active duty personnel, writing in any genre and about any subject matter. Submissions will open from 1^st to 31^st May; send poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction. The prizes are $1,000, $750, $500; details here.)

Sambasivan & Parikh and Free Spirit Publishing: 2026 Asian Voices in Children’s Literature
This will be their first annual Asian Voices in Children’s Literature Writing Contest, open for writers of Asian heritage in the US. It is for children’s books “for ages 0–4 (50–125 words) or for ages 4–8 (300–1,000 words)”. The books “Must feature authentic, realistic characters of Asian heritage

• Must focus on one or more of the following topics: resilience, character development, self-esteem, identity, getting along with others, engaging with family and community, or other topics related to positive childhood development
• Must be connected in writers of Asian heritage in the US some way to the writer’s personal experience”

The contest is run by Sambasivan & Parikh and Free Spirit Publishing. Free Spirit Publishing is an imprint of Teacher Created Materials (TCM); they also run the Black Voices in Children’s Literature and Latino Voices in Children’s Literature contests, both of which are yet to announce their 2026 submission dates. Apart from a cash prize, winner receives other opportunities as well, including a meeting with the publishers. Winner will be considered for publication but this is not guaranteed. A slot will open on their Submittable page for this category during their submission period (there are other opportunities listed there, too); or you can submit to the contest by other means (see guidelines). Please send your entries only during the submission period.   Value: $1,000, $500, $300
Submission period: 4^th to 31^st May 2026
Open for: Writers of Asian heritage in the US
Details here.

Five Minutes: Micromemoir Marathon
Five Minutes publishes micro memoir. They will soon open submissions for a themed micromemoir contest; they have 26 themes listed that you can write on: 1. Into the Wild; 2. Inheritance; 3. Then I Remembered Where I Had Seen That Face Before; 4. A Watery World; 5. Glitz; 6. Lie to Me; 7. Songs, Sounds, and Voices; 8. Sting; 9. Broken; 10. Five-Minute Noir; 11. Loss; 12. Music Box; 13. Fraught Firsts; 14. Friends and Friendship; 15. Out of Range; 16. Unusual Vacations; 17. The Ordinary That Wasn’t; 18. Exceed Expectations; 19. Hope; 20. Ripe; 21. Care; 22. Intersections; 23. Praise Rain; 24. The Joy in the Unseen; 25. Wish; 26. A Time You Had to Act like Someone You’re Not.
“Any time between May 6 and May 31, submit to any or all of the contests/themes above. All pieces must be 100 words, must focus on a very short period of time (think five minutes), and must be centered on real events you experienced.

Winners will be announced in July and will receive $5 USD … Anyone who enters all 26 contests will be recognized as well.” And, most of their regular Five Minutes’ guidelines apply to the contests (see guidelines).
Value: $5
Submission period: 6^th to 31^st May 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here and here.

Speculative Literature Foundation: Older Writers Grant
They offer grants for writers of speculative literature, spread out across the year; during May, they’ll be open for The Older Writers Grant for writers who are at least 50 years old at the time of grant application, and is intended to assist such writers who are just starting to work at a professional level. The writing application sample could be of fiction, poetry, drama, or creative nonfiction, of speculative literature. A writing sample (see guidelines) is part of the application. They are scheduled to open soon for submissions.
Value: $1,000
Deadline: 31 May 2026
Open for: Writers of speculative literature who are at least 50 years old
Details here and here.

The Black Orchid Novella Award
This is an international contest for novellas (15,000-20,000 words) that confirm to the tradition of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series (see guidelines). They should focus on the deductive skills of the sleuth. They are not looking for derivatives of the Nero Wolfe series, or the milieu. Submission is via a form.
Value: $1,000 and publication
Deadline: 31 May 2026 – see FAQ
Details here (also download the flyer from here.)

Jerry Jazz Musician Short Fiction Contest
This is an international fiction contest. While the story should appeal to the audience of this magazine, all themes will be considered. Their readers have interests in music, social history, literature, politics, art, film and theater, particularly that of the counter-culture of mid-twentieth century America. Ideally, stories should not exceed 3,000 words, but those up to 4,000 words will be considered.
Value: $150
Deadline: 31 May 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here.

SETI Institute: Cosmic Consciousness Literary Residency
This is an international, remote residency, over 18 months. They invite “writers and poets working in all areas of literature, including, but not limited to, speculative fiction/sci-fi and experimental writing and poetry. The artworks resulting from this residency should reflect and expand on the SETI Institute’s “Intelligence and Consciousness” research division, whose central science questions are: “What is the nature of consciousness?” and “What is the nature and evolution of intelligence?” …. Areas of creative research may engage with the following topics:

• Experiments in language and consciousness
• Alien intelligence and cultural exchange
• Transhumanism and posthuman consciousness
• AI and consciousness
• Multisensory poetry and multiple intelligences”

They also say, artists are expected to develop a project (not necessarily a book) on the residency theme, and be willing and interested to consult with SETI Institute scientists and partners. Also, “The Residency begins on October 1 each cycle. During the first year, Residents will present their work directions, issues, and development status to the SETI Institute AIR program. The project will be completed by May of Year 2 and presented at a public SETI Institute event in Year 2.”
Value: $10,000
Deadline: 1 June 2026
Open for: All writers
Details here (BlueSky post) and here.

ABA Journal / Ross Writing Contest for Legal Short Fiction
This is a fiction contest for US writers (see guidelines). The ABA Journal is the flagship magazine of the American Bar Association. Send a story of up to 5,000 words that illuminates the role of the law and/or lawyers in modern society.
Value: $5,000
Deadline: 1 June 2026
Open for: US writers
Details here.

The Dream Foundry Emerging Writers Contest
This is a contest for emerging writers of speculative fiction (it is for writers who are relatively new to paid or incoming-earning publication of speculative short fiction in English; please check detailed eligibility rules on their website). Send a speculative fiction story of up to 10,000 words. They want short speculative fiction only (science fiction, fantasy, weird fiction, etc.); do not send stories that have no speculative element. Submission is via a form on their website.
Value: $1,500, $750, $400
Deadline: 8 June 2026
Open for: Emerging writers of speculative fiction
Details here.

-- PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants: This international grant is to support the translation of book-length works of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, or drama that have not previously appeared in English in print or have appeared only in an outdated or otherwise flawed translation. Works should be translations-in-progress, as the grant aims to provide support for completion. The works must be translated into English. Projects may have up to two translators. There are various submission requirements, including a translation sample of 8-10 pages. The grants, for all writers, are for $2,000-4,000, and the deadline is 15^th June 2026; details here, here, and here. (PEN America is also open for other grants including the PEN/Bare Life Review Grants; the PEN/Phyllis Naylor Grant for Children’s and Young Adult Novelists, for published YA/children’s writers by a US trade publisher; PEN/Jean Stein Grant for Literary Oral History; amounts and eligibility vary; they all close for applications on 15^th June 2026 — see pen.org/literary-grants and Submittable.)

-- The Norton Writer’s Prize: This is a non-fiction prize for undergraduates in the US, who are enrolled in an accredited 2- or 4-year college or university, enrolled during the 2025-26 year, and aged 18 and above. They will accept literacy narratives, literary and other textual analyses, reports, profiles, evaluations, arguments, memoirs, proposals, multimodal pieces, and other forms of original non-fiction pieces of 1,000-3,000 words. Entries require nomination by an instructor. There are three prizes of $1,000 each, and the deadline is 15 June 2026; details here (you can download rules).

-- Academy of American Poets: James Laughlin Award: This is for a second full-length poetry manuscript by a US poet, contracted by a publisher. Manuscripts have to be 48-100 pages long. Translations and new editions of previously published books are not eligible. Apart from a cash prize of $5,000, the poet also receives an all-expenses-paid weeklong residency at The Betsy Hotel in Miami Beach, Florida. The deadline is 15 June 2026. Details here and here.

-- Richard J. Margolis Award: The award is for non-fiction writers of social justice journalism. It is for a promising new journalist or essayist whose work combines warmth, humour, wisdom and concern with social justice. Applications should include 2-3 non-fiction writing samples, up to 30 pages. At least one sample should be non-memoir material. The prize is $10,000 and residency at Blue Mountain Centre artists’ colony; $1,000 for runners-up. The deadline is 1 July 2026; details here and here.