9th–12th Grade Students Invited to Submit to Bennington College Young Writers Awards
Bennington College is now accepting submissions from high school students around the world for its 2026-2027 Young Writers Awards.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of this annual competition, which accepts entries in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, is free to enter and open to all high school students in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. A first-, second-, and third-place winner is selected in each of the categories, with cash prizes up to $2,000 awarded.
Young Writers Award finalists and winners are also eligible for undergraduate scholarships at Bennington. YWA winners who enroll at Bennington will receive a full-tuition scholarship every year for four years, for a total of more than $240,000. Distinguished writers in each grade and category will receive half-tuition scholarships. YWA finalists who enroll at Bennington will receive a $25,000 scholarship every year for four years, for a total of $100,000.
Submissions for the 2026-2027 Young Writers Awards will be accepted through November 1, 2026, with winners announced in spring 2027. Visit bennington.edu/YWA for more information.
Bennington has also expanded the Young Writers Awards into the Young Creators Awards, with additional opportunities for artists, musicians, scientists, and innovators.
For more information, see submission guidelines or sign up to receive notifications about the competition. Downloadable Young Writers Awards posters are also available.
In 2025-2026, Bennington College awarded nine young writers from across the country and around the world. See past winners here.