Edinburgh Essay Award A project of Scottish Arts Trust (see other related projects). About The Edinburgh Essay Award welcomes non-fiction submissions on a broad range of topics. We seek essays on cultural subjects such as art, literature, theatre, dance, music, and other artistic expressions; travel narratives about locations, individuals, and experiences; profiles that explore the impact of people — from community figures to international icons; discussions of environmental issues from household to global level; personal memoirs capturing transformative or enlightening experiences; and examinations of philosophical, historical, or modern-day topics and more. Fees Notice: This project charges fees (or requires purchases) for all submissions, except for some fee waivers available to underrepresented writers. The fee is GBP £10 (below average for contests). Important: Publication will be offered to top 15 essays. Country of Publication & Year Established United Kingdom Established in 2024 Publication Medium & Contest Frequency Print Publication Print PublicationAwarded 1 x per year AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Nonfiction Temp Closed Dates:Will be open to submissions from 01 November 2026* (approx. 50 days from now) through 12 March 2027.1Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Lengths: Essay: Up to 2,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary, Mainstream, Personal.Topics: Open to all/most Topics including... Film/Television. History. Literature/Books. Memoir. Music. Nature/Environment: Environmental issues. Performing Arts. Philosophy. Society/Culture: Current events. Travel. Visual Arts.Winner's Prize:Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: GBP £1,000 first place prize.Submissions:Method: Submittable submission manager. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Simultaneous submissions are allowed.Multiple entries: Multiple entries are allowed.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary.* We do not know the time and/or timezone, so we cannot be more precise. Submit early to avoid disappointment. Go to contest webpage Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial:X (Twitter) @ScotStoryAwards Support this Publisher: Buy Book(s) For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope Edinburgh Essay Award Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. We have not received any submission reports for this listing in the past 12 months. Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Related ProjectsEdinburgh Award for Flash Fiction Charges fees for all submissionsEdinburgh Novel Award DNQEdinburgh Short Story Award Charges fees for all submissionsEdinburgh True Flash Award ON HIATUS Charges fees for all submissionsEdinburgh Young Adult Fiction Prize DNQ Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 23 Jul 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only