The Cheshire Prize for Literature 2025/26 is now open.
This year’s competition is open to anyone who has ever lived, worked or studied in Cheshire, Wirral, Warrington or Halton to enter in three age categories:
Primary (4-11): poetry or short story category
Secondary (11-18): poetry or short story category
Over 18: poetry, short story, flash fiction, children’s literature, scriptwriting
There is no theme; writers can write about anything that inspires them.
You can enter two entries per person, but they must be in different categories.
Closing date for entries is 31st January 2026.
Please read the full terms and conditions for full details of the competition and to see the criteria for each category. See the leaflet below for more information or enter here or email cheshireprize@chester.ac.uk for any queries.