June 1, 2026 1:39 pm – 1:39 pm
The Times/Chicken House Children’s Fiction Competition 2026 is organised by Chicken House Books in partnership with The Times. It’s one of the most prestigious international competitions for unpublished and unagented children’s and YA novelists, offering major publishing opportunities and cash advances.
This competition invites completed full-length novel manuscripts written in English for readers aged 7–18, with suggested lengths in the range of approximately 30,000–80,000 words (though shorter/longer may be considered). Entrants must submit a covering letter, a one-page synopsis, and the full manuscript. You must be 18 or older, not have a literary agent, and not have commercially published a full-length children’s novel before.
Two prizes are offered:
- The Times/Chicken House Prize: a worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House Books and a £10,000 royalty advance, plus a conversation about representation with an agent judge.
- The Broken Binding Prize: for YA fantasy, sci-fi, or speculative fiction, also including a publishing contract with a £10,000 advance and an agent conversation.
Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.
FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.
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