Bridport Prize 2026

Publication

All winning poetry, short story, flash fiction and novel pieces are featured in our anthology, opening doors with literary agents and publishers and giving access to other competitions not available to the public.

Bursaries available

We have a robust scheme of bursaries available for under represented writers. No proof of income is required. Find out more here

Poetry. 1st Prize £5,000

You don’t have to be Tennyson Just talented | Up to 42 lines.

Short story. 1st Prize £5,000

Quick to read, impossible to forget | 5,000 words or less. 

Flash Fiction. 1st Prize £1,000

The art of just enough | 250 words or less. 

Novel. Winner £1,500 plus package

The Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award | 8,000 words and a synopsis - initially.

Up to a year’s mentoring from The Literary Consultancy through their Chapter & Verse scheme (worth £2,640) and a detailed critique from the novel judge. 

Runner-up £750 plus package

Full manuscript appraisal and Industry Day place from The Literary Consultancy. 

Young Writer Award £500

For the highest placed writer aged 16 to 25 in poetry, short story, flash fiction and novel.

Never Too Late Award

This £500 award is given to the highest placed writer aged 60+ in Poetry, Short Story, Novel and Flash Fiction. The winning piece will feature in our anthology, which counts as being published and opens doors with literary agents and publishers. It also accesses other competitions not available to the public.