Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards 2026

The Penguin Random House Creative Writing Awards 2026 is a program awarding significant prize money across multiple categories for high school students in the United States. It supports poetry, memoir/personal essay, fiction/drama, and freedom of expression, and includes additional recognition for honorable mentions. Winners participate in a virtual development week and gain opportunities within the publishing field.

Prizes totaling $40,000 across four $10,000 prizes, plus additional rewards and a virtual development week with editors and professionals in publishing; up to 100 honorable mentions receive a Creativity Kit.

Applicants must be current high school seniors at a public high school in the United States graduating Spring 2026 and under 21 years of age, and plan to enroll in a college, university, or approved vocational-technical school Fall 2026.

Submit one original English-language literary composition in poetry, memoir/personal essay, fiction/drama, or freedom of expression prompt via the application portal; deadline January 15, 2026 at 3:00 PM Central Time or until 1,000 applications are received.