31Jul
Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award 2026
Poetry submission deadline, 6 PM ET. Any theme, up to 40 lines. Open worldwide, ages 11 to 17. Free. AI-written poems barred.
Writing Juniors
Poetry · essays · stories · journalism · plays · creative nonfiction
Filtered from polymythcalendar’s verified competition records. Every listing keeps its source link, age band, deadline, and eligibility note.
20 writing competitions
20 writing competition listings are listed below. Use the controls above to filter them when JavaScript is available.
30Sep
Hamilton Public Library Power of the Pen
Hamilton Public Library
Deadline projected from the annual September window. Hamilton-area youth submit original poetry or short stories in English. Free. This is a regional library contest, so Hamilton eligibility applies…
01Nov
Royal Canadian Legion Literary Contest
The Royal Canadian Legion and Legion National Foundation
Local branch deadlines vary, so this placeholder marks the annual Remembrance contest window. Students submit an original essay or poem on Remembrance in English, French, or bilingual format. Junior essays are up to 350 words, intermediate up to 500 words…
20Nov
Polar Expressions Student Writing Contest 2026
Submission deadline. Poetry up to 32 lines or a short story up to 450 words. Canadian students, kindergarten to grade 12. Free.
15Dec
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Regional deadlines, projected across the December to January window. Eleven writing categories. Students in the US and Canada, grades 7 to 12, age 13 and over. Ten dollar per entry with waivers. Final work cannot be AI-generated…
13Feb
OECTA Young Authors Awards
Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association
School-level deadline projected from the latest verified February cycle. Students enter short story, poem, nonfiction, and, from grades 5 to 12, play categories. English and French tracks…
15Feb
Poetry In Voice Write Contest
Submission window, projected August 15 to February 15, monthly winners. Poetry. Canadian students, grades 7 to 12, under 19. Free. FutureVerse intensive for senior winners. Confirm on the site.
20Feb
Meaning of Home Student Contest
Habitat for Humanity Canada
Deadline projected from the latest verified January to February cycle. Students in grades 4 to 6 submit a 50 to 300 word composition, essay, or poem on what home means to them. Free, English or French…
28Feb
CBC First Page Student Writing Challenge
Submission deadline, projected from the annual February window. One opening page of a novel set 150 years ahead, 300 to 400 words. Canadian residents, grades 7 to 12. Free. Confirm the date on the site.
28Feb
Ottawa Public Library Awesome Authors Youth Writing Contest
Ottawa Public Library
Deadline projected from the latest verified February cycle. Ottawa-area youth submit short stories, poems, or comics, with English and French opportunities. Free. This is a regional library contest, so Ottawa eligibility applies…
28Feb
River of Words Poetry and Art Contest
Deadline approximate, projected from the late-February window, verify. Poetry and art on a watershed theme. Students worldwide, kindergarten to grade 12. Free. Confirm the date on the site.
23Mar
Toronto Public Library Young Voices Magazine
Submission deadline, projected from the annual March window. Poems, stories, reviews, comics. Teens who live, work, or study in Toronto, ages 12 to 19. Free. Strict AI ban. Publication, no cash prize. Confirm on the site.
31Mar
Kids Write 4 Kids
Ripple Foundation
Annual deadline projected from the official October 1 to March 31 cycle. Canadian students in grades 4 to 8 submit original fact, fiction, prose, or poetry up to 5,000 words. Free…
31Mar
YABS Young Writers Award
Young Alberta Book Society
Annual deadline projected from the official December 1 to March 31 window. Alberta students in grades 4 to 9 submit an original short story up to 2,500 words. Free. Winners receive books, certificates, and an online writing workshop with a published author…
01Apr
Indigenous Arts and Stories
Program appears on hiatus, verify before relying on it. Historically a March 31 deadline. Creative writing and art. Canadians of Indigenous ancestry, ages 6 to 29. Free.
01Apr
Vancouver Writers Fest Youth Writing Contest
Vancouver Writers Fest
Opening date placeholder for the next spring cycle. BC students submit previously unpublished short stories or personal essays. Elementary submissions are up to 1,000 words and high-school submissions up to 1,500 words. Winners receive cash prizes…
30Apr
Jessamy Stursberg Poetry Prize for Canadian Youth
League of Canadian Poets
Deadline approximate. Submissions open annually in September. Canadian youth poets submit one poem of up to one page. Cash prizes are awarded in junior and senior categories. Confirm the active deadline on the League of Canadian Poets site.
30Apr
Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition
Royal Commonwealth Society
Deadline projected from the annual April 30 cycle. Entrants write one piece of up to 1,000 words responding to an official prompt, with forms including poem, letter, article, story, essay, or short script. Free…
31May
CNIB Braille Creative Writing Contest
CNIB
Deadline projected from the official March 1 to May 31 annual window. Students submit a braille short story, essay, or poem in English or French on any topic, up to 4,000 words. Free. Cash prizes are awarded in category groups…
31May
James Bartleman Indigenous Youth Creative Writing Award
Submission deadline, projected from the annual May window. Any creative writing. Indigenous students enrolled in and resident in Ontario, under 18. Free. Twenty-five hundred dollars to up to six recipients. Confirm on the site.