Summary: A £10,000 prize for any full-length work of fiction or non-fiction, or volume of poetry, which evokes the spirit of a place.
Judging: As a judge, you would receive the entries in two batches, one in late autumn and another just before Christmas. We typically receive around 130 submissions, and each judge is asked to read approximately 50 to 60 works, including a number of poetry collections. We ensure that each entry is read by at least two judges, so no one is expected to read the full list.
The judging process culminates in the announcement of the winner in May. We aim to agree on a longlist by March, followed by a judging meeting (which can take place via zoom or face to face depending on the judge’s preference) to determine the shortlist and final winner.
Judging Fee: £1000, plus reasonable travel expenses if needed
Key Dates:
Reading: November 2026 – February 2027
Judging Meeting: April 2027
Awarded: Private dinner in Spring 2027 at Two Temple Place
Summary: A £1,000 Prize for the best unpublished short story of the year.
Judging: The Prize is for previously unpublished stories between 2000-4000 words and the winner gets £1,000 and their story published in our magazine. We take entries from the UK, Ireland and the Commonwealth, usually getting around 900, which will then be sifted down to around 20–30 to be sent to each judge at the end of the year. Judges submit their top selections (5–6 stories) by early January to create the longlist. The judging meeting is held in late January, where the shortlist and winner are finalised.
Judging Fee: £200, plus reasonable expenses if judging takes place in person
Reading: December 2026 – January 2027
Judging: January 2027
Awarded: February 2027 at the ALCS Awards
Summary: Three awards will be presented – one of £10,000, one of £5,000, and one of £2,500 – to provide financial support for talented new writers to complete their first book of non-fiction for a mainstream audience, especially by buying them time for writing or research.
Judging: We hope that the judging itself shouldn’t take too much of your time. The reading is not of full-length books – we usually receive around 40 submissions, which include a few pages about the book and the writer and then a writing sample of no more than 20 pages. We close for entries in late June, so these would be sent to you at the start of August. We plan to hold two judging meetings: the first in August as an introductory session to meet each other and discuss approaches to judging, and the second in early October to decide the winners. Ahead of the October meeting, each judge will submit their top five choices from the applications, which will form the basis of the discussion.
Judging Fee: £150, plus any necessary expenses
Reading: August 2026 – October 2026
Judging Meeting: August 2026, October 2026
Awarded: Online in late November
Summary: A £10,000 prize for a debut work of fiction or non-fiction (including YA but not poetry, novellas, drama, or short story collections) published in the UK or RoI in the calendar year by a writer aged 50 or over at the time of publication.
Judging: We anticipate sending judges approximately 25–30 entries, usually in December or January. The first judging meeting will take place in spring and will serve as an introductory session for judges to meet and discuss their initial impressions informally. The second meeting, scheduled for May, will focus on final decisions, including selecting the shortlist and winner.
Judging Fee: £750, plus any necessary expenses
Reading: December 2026 – February 2027
Judging Meeting: March 2027, May 2027
Awarded: Online in July 2027
Summary: The RSL International Writers programme was launched to mark the RSL’s bicentenary in November 2020 and celebrate international literary culture. The recipients of the RSL International Writers awards are those who have made a significant contribution to world literature, and whose work has transcended borders to bring readers and writers together.
Judging: In June, a full list of names is sent to panellists. By July, panellists should submit a longlist of names they believe are strong contenders (anticipated to be around 100, depending on the total recommendations received). In July, the RSL circulates the full recommendation texts of the panellists’ selections to everyone ahead of the second meeting.
The first panel meeting will take place in mid-July, focusing on discussing the longlisted names and determining a shortlist (expected to be around 30). At this stage, panellists will also request any works they wish to review, specifying whether they prefer extracts or full-length works in digital or hard copy format. By the end of July, requested works will be sent to panellists.
From July to September, panellists will read the recommended writers’ work. The final panel meeting will be held in September, where the panel will agree on the final list of 12 writers to put forward, along with a reserve list in case any original choices cannot be contacted or decline.
Judging Fee: There is no renumeration for judging International Writers.
Reading: June 2026 – September 2026
Judging Meeting: July 2026, September 2026
Awarded: Online in December 2026
