Enter the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival’s 2026 writing competition with new writing inspired by mental health and our theme of Reflections. This year, it is open to writers based in Scotland.
There are three categories and you can submit one piece in each category:
- FICTION: Short fiction pieces, including short stories, between 500 and 2000 words.
- POETRY: Poems, up to 40 lines.
- CREATIVE NON-FICTION: Prose writing with a factual basis, between 500 and 2000 words. Examples can include letters, diary entries, autobiographical writing, creative journalism, and personal essays.
There will also be new prize for a young writer:
- YOUNG WRITER PRIZE: Writers aged 16 to 25 may also be considered for a new young writer award with entries in any of the above categories.
The closing date for the competition is 23:59 on Sunday 16 August 2026 (extended from Sunday 9 August). We cannot accept any entries received after this date.
Submission Guidelines
Please read submission guidelines in full before submitting.
- Entry to the competition is FREE.
- Entrants must be aged 16 or over.
- Entrants must be based in Scotland.
- Entries must be typed and written in English or Scots.
- Entries must explore mental health and the theme of Reflections.
- All work must be original and not previously published (in print or online).
- Entries will be judged anonymously. Do not include your name anywhere in the submission file you upload, or your entry will not be considered.
- Entries may have been written at any time, as long as they are not previously published or submitted to the SMHAF writing competition.
- Prose entries (Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction) must be 500–2000 words.
- Poetry entries must not exceed 40 lines.
- To be eligible for the Young Writer Prize, entrants must:
- Be aged 16 or over by the closing date (Sunday 9 August)
- Be aged 25 or under by the festival closing date (Sunday 9 November)
- Tick the relevant box and provide their date of birth on the application form
- Entries in all categories will be considered for the Young Writer Prize, in addition to the main competition, provided they meet the relevant word or line limits.
- By entering, you agree that your work may be published (in print, online, or other media) as part of the competition. Copyright remains with the author.
- All entrants will be notified of the outcome by Monday 7 September 2026. If you do not receive notification, please check your junk folder before contacting us at smhaf@mentalhealth.org.uk.
- Shortlisted entrants will be invited to read their work at the SMHAF 2026 Writing Awards. The date and venue are to be confirmed.
- We will inform all entrants of any changes to the above timetable.
- Due to the high volume of submissions, we are unable to provide individual feedback on entries.
