The Bridport Prize

03/11/2026

One brilliant day ✨

On 17th October, writers, judges and friends of the Bridport Prize came together to celebrate a year of extraordinary work.

There were readings, speeches, lovely conversations and the chance to meet the people behind the poems, stories and novels we’d spent months reading. Our judges spoke about the imagination, range and ambition in this year’s entries and the winners finally got to celebrate together.

A huge thank you to everyone who helped make the day so special, and to all the writers who gave us such wonderful work to read. Here are a few moments from the celebration.

25/10/2026

A date for the diary, or the note permanently open on your phone.

The 2027 Bridport Prize opens on 15 November 2026.

Poetry • Short Story • Flash Fiction • Novel

Full details will be live when entries open. Want the announcement in your inbox? Sign up to our newsletter at www.bridportprize.org.uk

24/10/2026

The new Bridport Prize anthologies have arrived.

Discover this year’s winning and highly commended poems, short stories and flash fiction, alongside a separate anthology of extracts from the novel longlist.

They’re lovely things to have on your bookshelf, too—which never hurts.

£13.50 each +P&P
https://buff.ly/PbU5XkG

17/10/2026

Meet our 2026 Bridport Prize winners!

Congratulations to this year’s winning writers across Poetry, Short Story, Flash Fiction and the Peggy Chapman-Andrews First Novel Award, alongside our Dorset, Young Writer and Never Too Late Award winners.

Thank you to everyone who trusted us with their words, with entries from 118 countries.

Discover the winners and full results at www.bridportprize.org.uk

03/10/2026

A special opportunity for writers ✍️

Win an hour of bespoke fiction feedback with Kit de Waal on 1,000 words of your writing, live on Zoom.

Kit knows the Bridport Prize from both sides — she entered, won twice, later returned as a judge, and is now our Honorary Patron.

Bridport Arts Centre is the home of the Bridport Prize, and entries to this draw start at £5, with proceeds supporting the Arts Centre’s Come Together campaign.

📅 Draw closes 30 October 2026

Enter here:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/feedback-with-kit-de-waal

Writers, this one is for you.

One winner will receive an hour of bespoke feedback from Kit de Waal on 1,000 words of fiction, live on Zoom.

Kit knows the Bridport Prize from both sides. Long before My Name Is Leon, the bestselling books and the BBC adaptation, she entered the Prize herself. And won it. Twice.
She later returned as a judge and is now the Bridport Prize’s Honorary Patron, helping champion the next generation of writers.

Entries start at £5. Every one supports Come Together and our campaign to bring Bridport Arts Centre into community ownership.

The draw closes on 30th October. Good luck. Get writing.

Enter the Kit de Waal draw ➡️ www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/feedback-with-kit-de-waal

30/09/2026

LAST DAY TO ENTER

The Bridport Prize Memoir Award closes tonight at 23:59 UK time.

If your entry is ready, don’t leave it until the final few minutes.

Entries close tonight — 30 September, 23:59 UK time.

Enter now: bit.ly/memoir-award

29/09/2026

Just 1 day left.

The Bridport Prize Memoir Award closes tomorrow at 11.59pm UK time.

If your entry is nearly ready, now is the time to finish those final checks and submit.

* Opening 5,000–8,000 words + 300-word overview
* £1,500 first prize + mentoring package
* Open internationally to writers aged 16+

Deadline: 30 September 2026, 11.59pm UK time

Enter now: bit.ly/memoir-award

28/09/2026

Just 2 days left.

The Bridport Prize Memoir Award closes this Wednesday.

Your memoir doesn't need to be finished. Submit your opening 5,000–8,000 words, together with a 300-word overview.

Entries close 30 September at 11.59pm (UK time).

Enter now: bit.ly/memoir-award

27/09/2026

Only 3 days left to enter the Bridport Prize Memoir Award.

If you've been waiting for the "perfect" moment to submit, this is it. Your memoir doesn't need to be complete—we're looking for the opening 5,000–8,000 words, together with a 300-word overview.

£1,500 first prize plus a mentoring package
Open internationally to writers aged 16+ writing in English
Deadline: Wednesday 30 September, 11.59pm (UK time).

Enter today: bit.ly/memoir-award

25/09/2026

Just 5 days left to enter the Bridport Prize Memoir Award.

If you've been waiting to hit submit, now's the time.

Your memoir doesn't need to be finished—we're looking for the opening 5,000–8,000 words, plus a 300-word overview.
First prize: £1,500 plus a mentoring package.
Open internationally to writers aged 16+ writing in English.

Deadline: 30 September 2026, 11.59pm (UK time)

Enter now: bit.ly/memoir-award