UK children’s book writing competitions; what’s available, what you can win, and what’s worth entering
This article was verified in August 2026 and will be updated regularly. Always check the competition’s own website before entering, as deadlines, entry fees, and eligibility change from year to year.
Writing competitions occupy a specific and useful place in the children’s publishing landscape. They are one of the few routes into traditional publishing that bypass the agent query process entirely, they offer feedback that is otherwise difficult and expensive to access, and the better ones carry genuine industry credibility that strengthens future submissions. They are also, it should be said, highly competitive, so it’s good to pick the right competition, and keep the right expectations.
Here is guide to the competitions worth knowing about in 2027, what each offers, and how to think about whether entering is worth your time.
Before you enter: a few things worth knowing
Entry fees are standard for most serious literary competitions and are not a sign of illegitimacy. They cover the cost of reading and assessing manuscripts, which is a significant undertaking when competitions receive thousands of entries. That said, entry fees vary considerably, and most reputable competitions offer reduced or waived fees for writers on low incomes. Always check whether a hardship or sponsored entry scheme is available before ruling a competition out on cost grounds.
AI-generated or AI-assisted work is explicitly ineligible for a growing number of competitions. The Bath Children’s Novel Award, for instance, states clearly that AI-generated or AI-edited work will be disqualified.
Simultaneous submissions, so entering the same manuscript in multiple competitions at once, are generally permitted unless a competition states otherwise. Check the terms for each competition individually.
Being longlisted or shortlisted carries real value even when you don’t win. A competition listing is a legitimate credential that strengthens query letters and demonstrates that your work has been assessed positively by industry professionals. Don’t dismiss a competition simply because the top prize feels out of reach.
The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition
The largest and most prestigious children’s book writing competition in the UK. Open to unagented writers over 18 from anywhere in the world, with a completed full-length novel for readers aged 7-18. The manuscript must be unpublished at the time of entry.
The competition offers two prizes: the Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Prize (a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House including a £10,000 advance, plus a discussion about representation with an agent judge) and the Broken Binding Prize, introduced in 2026 for YA science fiction, fantasy, and speculative fiction (a separate £10,000 publishing contract and representation discussion). Both prizes are significant – a £10,000 advance is above the market rate for most debut children’s novels, and Chicken House has a strong track record of publishing competition winners successfully.
The competition runs annually. The 2026 edition closed on 1 June 2026. The 2027 edition is expected to open in early 2027, and it’s best follow Chicken House on social media for the announcement. Entry fee: £25, reduced to £20 on application for writers who cannot afford the standard fee.
Worth entering if: You have a completed, polished middle grade or YA novel and are unagented. This is the single competition most likely to result in a publishing deal.
The Bath Children’s Novel Award
An international competition open to unagented emerging authors of children’s novels, YA, chapter books, and picture book texts. “Emerging” is defined as writers who have not yet accepted a publication offer that includes an advance, which means self-published authors and those published by small presses without an advance are eligible.
The top prize is £5,000 plus a Minerva Trophy, announced in March 2027 for the current cycle. What distinguishes this competition from others is the feedback structure: all longlisted writers receive written feedback on their initial submission, shortlisted writers receive feedback on their full manuscript, and one longlisted writer receives a free place on Cornerstones’ 18-week novel editing course (valued at £1,980). The shortlist judging is done by a children’s literary agent, and the initial shortlist is selected by Junior Judges aged 7-17, which is an unusual feature for a competition whose books are aimed at exactly that readership.
Entry requires the opening of your manuscript (up to 5,000 words) plus a one-page synopsis. For picture books, up to three texts may be submitted per entry. Entry fee: £33 per entry. Sponsored places are available for writers on a low income.
The 2026 competition closed on 30 November 2026. The 2027 competition is expected to open in summer 2027. Check the competition page for the opening date.
Worth entering if: You have a strong opening 5,000 words and want genuine feedback regardless of the outcome. The feedback alone has value that other competitions don’t offer.
The Children’s Booker Prize
A significant new prize from the Booker Prize Foundation, first awarded in 2027. Unlike the competitions above, this is not a competition writers enter – it is a prize for published books, administered by publishers rather than authors. Books eligible for the 2027 prize were those published between 1 November 2025 and 31 October 2026 in the UK or Ireland, for readers aged 8-12.
The prize is worth knowing about for two reasons. First, it carries the full weight of the Booker Prize brand, and shortlisted authors receive £2,500 and the winner £50,000, making it the most financially significant prize in UK children’s publishing by a considerable margin. Second, it is judged by a mixed panel of adult and child judges; three adult judges select the shortlist, and three child judges aged 8-12 join them to choose the winner.
If you are published in this age range, ask your publisher whether your book has been submitted. Submissions for the 2027 prize are already closed, but the prize will run annually. Submissions for 2028 will open in November 2026 for books published between November 2026 and October 2027. Keep an eye on their website for news.
WriteMentor Children’s Novel Award
Run by WriteMentor, a well-regarded mentoring organisation for children’s writers. The competition is aimed at unagented writers of middle grade and YA and offers mentoring as its primary prize rather than publication. Winners and shortlisted writers are paired with published authors and industry professionals for a period of intensive manuscript development.
The competition runs annually, typically opening in spring and closing in summer. Check writemento.co.uk for the 2027 dates when announced. Entry is free or low-cost for most participants.
Worth entering if: Your manuscript is strong but not yet quite submission-ready, and you would benefit more from development support than from a publishing deal. The mentoring offered is really valuable and the connections made through WriteMentor have led to agent representation and publication for previous participants.
SCBWI competitions and awards
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators runs several competitions and awards for members, including the Crystal Kite Awards (recognising published books by SCBWI members in various regions) and occasional manuscript competitions for unpublished work. These are member-only, which means SCBWI membership is a prerequisite. Currently, membership costs around £63 per year in the UK.
The value of SCBWI competitions lies less in the prizes themselves and more in the community and industry access they provide. Being recognised by SCBWI carries credibility within the children’s publishing world and the judging process often involves agents and editors who may take note of strong entries.
Check scbwi.org for current UK competitions and their schedules.
A note on smaller and regional competitions
Beyond the major competitions listed above, there are numerous smaller competitions run by literary festivals, writing organisations, and independent publishers. These vary enormously in quality, credibility, and what they offer. A few things worth checking before entering a smaller competition:
- Who are the judges? Industry professionals like agents, editors, and published authors lend credibility. Anonymous judging panels or competitions that don’t disclose judges are worth approaching with more caution.
- What do the winners actually receive? A publication credit in a small anthology is helpful for some writers at some career stages and less so for others. Be clear about whether the prize fits what you need.
- Is the competition affiliated with a recognisable organisation? Festival competitions, university-run prizes, and competitions from established writing organisations tend to be more reliable than those run by entities with no visible track record.
This article will be updated when 2027 competition dates are confirmed. If you know of a competition that should be included, let us know at hello@onceuponadraft.co.uk.
For more on the publishing routes available to children’s book writers, read our guide to the five paths to getting your children’s book published.