Have a poem or tiny tale that punches above its weight? The nonprofit Next Generation Short Story Awards is now accepting entries for its 2026 poetry and fiction contests! Sponsored by the Next Generation Indie Book Awards and the Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group, the NG Short Story Awards “aim to honor and celebrate the creative talents of short story and poetry writers worldwide.”

Work can be entered in one or more of 30+ categories by Feb. 26, 2026. Winners will receive cash prizes, publication in a forthcoming anthology, social-media coverage, and more. Find the complete details here.