New Contrast Literary Journal

New Contrast Literary Journal Get published in New Contrast, The South African Literary Journal. Both our Nobel Literature laureates are patrons.

We accept submission in flash fiction, short stories, poetry, poems, essays, reviews, and artwork. Over the years, Contrast and New Contrast have brought many of this country's best writers to public notice. New Contrast provide a platform for writers of poetry and prose to get their work published and noticed.

Gabeba Baderoon and New Contrast writers at the most recent The Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Collective event! Thank you so mu...
03/04/2026

Gabeba Baderoon and New Contrast writers at the most recent The Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Collective event!

Thank you so much to The Red Wheelbarrow Poetry Collective for hosting us! Such a wonderful evening of writing, conversation and community. 💚

SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR ISSUE 211 ARE NOW OPEN We are accepting submissions for poetry, fiction, flash fiction, creative no...
10/03/2026

SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR ISSUE 211 ARE NOW OPEN

We are accepting submissions for poetry, fiction, flash fiction, creative non-fiction and reviews.

Please read our guidelines carefully to make sure your submissions will be read and considered.

We accept submissions in English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans.

Please note we only accept submissions via Submittable! No email or DM submissions will be considered. Link in bio.

Submission deadline: 25th March 2026

NEW CONTRAST ISSUE 210 LAUNCH! NEXT WEEK WEDNESDAY! GROUND CULTURE IN OBS! MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR POETRY, PROSE & GOOD ...
16/02/2026

NEW CONTRAST ISSUE 210 LAUNCH!
NEXT WEEK WEDNESDAY! GROUND CULTURE IN OBS! MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR POETRY, PROSE & GOOD CONVERSATION!

ALSO stay tuned for our very exciting cover reveal featuring artwork by and production design by !

PICS FROM NEW CONTRAST LAUNCH 209 ✨✨ what a time! what a venue! thank you to all who came and supported and to all our c...
27/11/2025

PICS FROM NEW CONTRAST LAUNCH 209 ✨✨ what a time! what a venue! thank you to all who came and supported and to all our contributors who read their beautiful work! And thank you to our wonderful photographer Jude Hunt for these pics!

SUBMISSIONS FOR ISSUE 210 ARE NOW OPEN!We’re accepting submissions for poetry, fiction, flash fiction, creative nonficti...
12/10/2025

SUBMISSIONS FOR ISSUE 210 ARE NOW OPEN!

We’re accepting submissions for poetry, fiction, flash fiction, creative nonfiction, reviews and criticism.

Please read our guidelines carefully to make sure your submission will be read.

We accept submissions in English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans.

Submission deadline: 10th November 2025

🪩IT’S LAUNCH TIME! 🪩We’re launching issue 209 in a week! Join us on the 2nd of October at The Museum of Dogs on Keerom S...
25/09/2025

🪩IT’S LAUNCH TIME! 🪩

We’re launching issue 209 in a week! Join us on the 2nd of October at The Museum of Dogs on Keerom Street, to celebrate the launch of an incredible issue.

There will be readings by our fantastic 209 contributors, drinks for sale, and fun times to be had all round! Bring your friends, your mom, your crush, your neighbour! You know the drill.

See ya there!

Art by our wonderful 209 cover artist 💙

ISSUE 209 COVER REVEAL!We are so excited to share this one with you. For this issue we are featuring the inimitable work...
24/09/2025

ISSUE 209 COVER REVEAL!

We are so excited to share this one with you. For this issue we are featuring the inimitable work of 👏

For our 209 interview, Mthunzikazi Mbungwana is in conversation with IVukuvuku about her artistic practice — and the interview is fully conducted and transcribed in isiXhosa, a New Contrast first.

Thank you for sharing your art with us ! We are honoured to feature your incredible work.

ISSUE 209 is released next Thursday, 2nd October. We are having a launch party at the Museum of Dogs in Keerom Street, Cape Town. See our feed for more deets! 💙

SUBMISSIONS FOR ISSUE 209 ARE NOW OPEN!We’re accepting submissions for poetry, fiction, flash fiction, creative nonficti...
04/06/2025

SUBMISSIONS FOR ISSUE 209 ARE NOW OPEN!

We’re accepting submissions for poetry, fiction, flash fiction, creative nonfiction, reviews and criticism.

Please read our guidelines carefully to make sure your submission will be read.

We accept submissions in English, isiXhosa and Afrikaans.

Submission deadline: 10th July 2025

Image artwork by

ISSUE 208 REVEAL! It’s here! Just in time for our launch party tomorrow at in Observatory! We are obsessed with everyth...
03/06/2025

ISSUE 208 REVEAL!

It’s here! Just in time for our launch party tomorrow at in Observatory! We are obsessed with everything about this issue 🔥

Cover art (front and back!) by Wandile Xaba ! We can’t get enough.

See you at our launch tomorrow! So many incredible readings happening, and you’ll be able to get your hands on one of these 🫶bring friends! colleagues! family! neighbours!

IT’S LAUNCH PARTY TIME!💃We are so excited to invite all of you to the launch party of New Contrast Issue 208 at in Obs...
27/05/2025

IT’S LAUNCH PARTY TIME!💃

We are so excited to invite all of you to the launch party of New Contrast Issue 208 at in Observatory on 4th June 2025!

We have planned an evening of incredible poetry and prose, all from poets and writers featured in issue 208. We will also have plenty of copies of 208 on sale, as well as bundle deals for issues 207 and 206.

Please bring your friends, your family, your colleagues, your neighbour, your crush!!

There will be food and drinks available to purchase from Ground Culture.

Excited to celebrate this issue with you!

Artwork by

Address

PO Box 44844, Claremont
Cape Town
7735

Telephone

+27832787370

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