Bournemouth Writing Prize Launches 10-Year Anniversary with Tripling of Prize Money

hello942758
May 3
3 min read

Now in its tenth year, the Bournemouth Writing Prize — delivered by Bournemouth University in collaboration with the Bournemouth Writing Festival — has launched its 2026 competition with a significant expansion of its prize fund. Open to short story writers and poets worldwide, the prize has become a fixture in the literary calendar, attracting entries from across the globe – and in its tenth year, is going all out!

For 2026, top awards in each category have been increased to £1,000, alongside publication in Dorset Magazine, a place in the festival anthology, and the chance to appear at the Bournemouth Writing Festival. The prize continues to offer an accessible route to recognition for writers at all stages, with entry fees held at £10 with a 20% early bird discount available until 31 May 2025.

Madeleine Milburn, the founder and director of the Madeleine Milburn Literary Agency, will be the judge of the short story competition. Madeleine was awarded Literary Agent of the Year at the British Book Awards in 2018.

Judging the poetry category is multi-award-winning published poet Abu Ibrahim. Abu was instrumental in advocating for the 'Best Spoken Word Poetry Album' at the Grammys.

The Bournemouth Writing Prize is run by Bournemouth University’s MA Creative Writing and Publishing course, with students contributing directly to the editorial process, prize management, and event planning.

“Following the success of the last prize, we have reconfigured the curriculum to align with the Festival’s timings” said Dr Bradford Gyori, course leader of the MA course at Bournemouth University. “It gives our students hands-on experience in publishing, connecting them with real writers and real audiences in a real-world setting.”

Festival Director Dominic Wong added: “The Bournemouth Writing Festival is more than celebrating writing — it’s about creating connections and opportunities. Whether it’s writers finding their voice or students gaining hands-on industry experience, we’re proud to provide real-world platforms that support talent, encourage collaboration, and open doors into the world of publishing. We are delighted that our partnership with Bournemouth University goes from strength to strength.”

At this year’s festival, the 2025 winners were introduced on stage by the judges and performed their work live with a band which spontaneously improvised music as the words were read — a vibrant event that also marked the official launch of the 2026 competition.

2026 Prize Overview:

£1,000 for the winner of each category (Short Story and Poetry)
£300 for second place; £200 for third
Publication in Dorset Magazine (category winners)
Shortlisted entries published in the Bournemouth Writing Prize anthology
Complimentary festival tickets and accommodation for category winners
Winners’ celebration event at the 2026 Bournemouth Writing Festival

Key Dates

31 May 2025 – Early bird deadline (20% discount)
15 August 2025 – Final deadline for entries
31 October 2025 – Shortlist announced
30 November 2025 – Winners selected by judges
15 January 2026 – Winners publicly announced
April 2026 – Festival celebration and anthology launch

Submission Details

Writers can enter one short story (up to 3,000 words) or up to three poems (each up to 30 lines) for £10. Full guidelines and submission details are available at https://www.bournemouthwritingfestival.co.uk/2026-writing-competition

Charity Partner

Each year, the competition supports a regional writing initiative. The 2026 charity partner is The StoryWorks, a Dorset-based organisation helping young people build confidence and creativity through storytelling. Entrants may choose to make a voluntary donation when submitting.