Canada's Creative Spectrum: Writing Contests
Canada has long been a fertile ground for literary talent, and in 2026 its writing contest landscape is more vibrant and competitive than ever. Whether you are an emerging voice or a seasoned author, the country offers a rich spectrum of competitions – from nationally broadcast prizes awarded by the CBC to internationally recognized poetry awards worth six figures. This guide brings together the most important contests Canadian writers should know about, fully updated with current prize structures, deadlines, and eligibility requirements so you can put your best work forward.
What Is a Writing Contest?
Writing competitions are an excellent platform for aspiring writers and authors to showcase their writing talents and gain recognition. These contests are organized by a variety of organizations, publications, and literary groups, providing participants with the opportunity to compete against other writers while potentially winning prizes.
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400+
writing contests & awards tracked annually in Canada
3,200+
submissions to the CBC Poetry Prize in 2025
2,300+
submissions to the CBC Short Story Prize in 2025
1,300+
submissions to the CBC Nonfiction Prize in 2025
C$130,000
top prize at the Griffin Poetry Prize (world’s largest poetry prize)
Since 1979
the CBC Literary Prizes have been recognizing Canadian writers
Benefits Writing Contests Bring
Writing contests can provide a range of benefits. For those who are considering entering one, it's important to understand the potential benefits and how they can help achieve writing goals. In this response, here are key benefits of how they can help you develop as a writer.
- Recognition. Such contests can bring attention to your writing skills, which can be particularly valuable in a crowded market. Recognition can open doors for aspiring writers and provide them with a platform to share their work with a wider audience.
- The possibility of winning prizes. Many contests offer a variety of rewards, such as cash prizes, scholarships, or publication opportunities for winners and finalists. These prizes can provide aspiring writers with the financial means to support their writing career or provide them with exposure to larger audiences.
- Receiving feedback. Feedback from judges or other participants can be valuable in improving writing skills. Feedback can provide writers with insights into their strengths and weaknesses, helping them to identify areas for improvement and develop their craft.
- Motivation. The sense of competition and the potential for recognition and prizes can help writers stay focused and committed to their writing projects. It can also help writers build confidence and develop their skills as they engage in the writing process. Contests can also provide an opportunity for writers to explore new topics and writing styles.
- Connecting with other writers. These contests can provide opportunities for writers to connect with other writers, learn from their experiences, and build a sense of community.
Array of Writing Contests in Canada
There are several writing competitions in Canada that offer opportunities for young writers to showcase their work and receive recognition. Here are a few examples:
The Claremont Review Writing Contest
The Claremont Review Writing Contest is an annual competition that seeks to recognize and promote exceptional young writers between the ages of 13 and 19. The contest is open to submissions of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction, and winners are awarded cash prizes, publication in The Claremont Review, and a subscription to the magazine.
The Claremont Review is a literary magazine based in Canada, that has been dedicated to showcasing the work of young writers and artists. The Claremont Review Contest is an important part of the magazine's mission to encourage and support young creative talent.
Entries are judged by a panel of professional writers and editors, and winners are announced in the spring of each year. The Claremont Review Contest is highly competitive, with hundreds of submissions received from around the world each year.
Overall, the Claremont Review Writing Contest provides a valuable opportunity for young writers to showcase their talent and gain recognition for their work.
CBC Literary Prize
The CBC Literary Prize remains one of Canada’s most prestigious and accessible writing competitions, hosted by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and funded in partnership with the Canada Council for the Arts. The competition invites original, unpublished works from Canadian citizens and permanent residents who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory. A $25 CAD entry fee applies per submission. For many entrants, it represents a significant step up from the writing contests Canada youth programs where they first found their voice.
The prize runs across three categories on a rolling annual schedule: the Short Story Prize (open September 1-November 1), the Nonfiction Prize (open January 1-March 1), and the Poetry Prize (open April 1-June 1). In each category, the winner receives $6,000 and a two-week writing residency at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity, with their work published on CBC Books. Four finalists in each category each receive $1,000 and publication on CBC Books.
The CBC Literary Prizes have been recognizing Canadian writers since 1979. Past winners include Carol Shields, Michael Ondaatje, Alison Pick, and David Bergen. It is worth noting that many of today's accomplished entrants began competing through youth writing contests and even novel contests for young writers before graduating to this national stage. The 2025 cycle drew over 2,300 entries for the Short Story Prize alone, and more than 3,200 submissions to the Poetry Prize, underscoring just how competitive – and rewarding – these contests have become.
Griffin Poetry Prize
Founded in 2000 by Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Scott Griffin, the Griffin Poetry Prize is the world’s largest international prize for a single book of poetry written in, or translated into, English. The prize celebrates the global character of poetry and the vital role of literary translation. Its reach extends beyond established figures: institutions like Claremont School Toronto have long championed creative writing education, helping to fuel the pipeline of young talent that feeds into youth poetry competitions and, eventually, prizes of this calibre. Past Canadian winners include Anne Carson, Robert Bringhurst, and Karen Solie, cementing the prize’s reputation as a career-defining honour.
Since 2022, the Griffin Prize has operated as a single unified international prize of C$130,000, open to poets from any country writing in or translated into English – with no separate Canadian and international categories. Each shortlisted poet receives C$10,000. The prize draws a genuinely diverse range of voices, from celebrated academics to multi-disciplinary creators in the tradition of figures like Lee Claremont, artist and writer, who exemplify how poetry intersects with broader cultural and visual practice.
Alongside the main prize, the Griffin Canadian First Book Prize (C$10,000 plus a six-week residency in Italy) honours the year’s outstanding debut poetry collection by a Canadian poet. When the winning book is a translation, the prize money is split 60% to the translator and 40% to the original poet. The 2025 winner was Karen Leeder for her English translation of Durs Grünbein’s Psyche Running: Selected Poems 2005-2022, chosen from 578 submissions representing 20 languages and 17 countries. The 2025 Lifetime Recognition Award (C$25,000) was presented to Margaret Atwood. The Griffin Poetry Prize has had a profound impact on the literary world, elevating the profiles of poets and translators who might otherwise reach only limited audiences and setting a global benchmark for excellence in the form.
Writers' Union of Canada Short Prose Competition
The Short Prose Competition for Emerging Writers was founded in 1993 as a tribute to the Union's 20th anniversary. The objective of this literary competition is to seek out, support, and endorse promising writers of short prose, thus creating opportunities and visibility for budding authors.
A cash prize of $2,500 is presented to the most outstanding Canadian writer for their unpublished work of up to 2,500 words in English. The Union will submit the winning entry and the eleven finalists' submissions to three renowned Canadian magazines for possible publication. Moreover, winners and finalists will receive valuable feedback on their literary pieces.
The Vancouver Writers Fest Writing Contest
In an effort to get people of all ages interested in reading and telling stories, the Vancouver Writers Fest hosts activities all year long with local and visiting authors. One of the largest and most prestigious literary festivals in North America takes place in Vancouver every October, drawing tens of thousands of people to Granville Island and other locations across the city for a week-long celebration of the written word.
Annually during springtime, the Vancouver Writers Fest initiates a youth writing competition, inviting submissions for short stories and personal essays. Esteemed members of the Vancouver literary community evaluate the entries, and the contest bestows four cash prizes along with publication in our newsletter. Several winners have gone on to have their pieces published either by a publisher or in well-known literary journals.