Now Open for 2026 Submissions
The Bath Children’s Novel Award 2026 is a £5,000 international prize for children’s novels, YA, chapter books, early readers and picture book texts. The prize is open to unagented writers who are unpublished, self-published or independently published without advance. Submissions are invited from 26 February 2026 to 30 November 2026 and we welcome writers of every age, gender, nationality and residency.
Bath Children’s Laureates include: New York Times bestselling author Struan Murray for the manuscript of Orphans of the Tide (published by Puffin in 2020), Matthew Fox for the manuscript of The Sky Over Rebecca (Hachette, 2022) and Lucy Van Smit for The Hurting (Chicken House, 2018)
2026’s winning manuscript will be judged by a leading children’s literary agent from a shortlist chosen by Junior Judges aged 7-17 years. The winner will be announced in March 2027 and awarded £5,000 along with our beautiful Minerva trophy, inspired by the iconic sculpture in Bath’s Roman Baths.
Shortlisted writers win a compilation of Junior Judges’ comments on their full manuscripts. Longlisted writers win a compilation of award readers’ comments on their extract and synopsis.
One longlisted writer will also win a place worth £1,980 on the 18 week virtual course Edit Your Novel the Professional Way from Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and the Professional Writing Academy.
Initial submissions are opening extracts up to 5,000 words plus a one page synopsis, or for picture book texts, up to three complete texts and summaries (per entry).
The Bath Novel Award 2026 entry fee is £33, with sponsored places available for writers on a low income.
You may enter as many times as you wish and we can’t wait to read your work.
