Creative Opportunities
Here we bring together new opportunities, competitions or residencies which might be of interest to artists across the Commonwealth.
Are you an arts organisation with an opportunity that you would like to share with our community? If so, please email creatives@commonwealthfoundation.com.
Please note that these are not Commonwealth Foundation projects (unless specifically stated). Enquiries about these opportunities should be made direct to the organiser.
Deadline: 10 April 2026
The Himalayan Emerging Writers Residency
Deadline: 13 April 2026
Regional Arts Australia: 2026 National Arts Fellowship
Deadline: 15 April 2026
Riddle Fence Fiction and Poetry Competitions
Deadline: 15 April 2026
The Breakout Prize
Deadline: 17 April 2026
The Royal Mint Museum Short Story Competition
Deadline: 19 April 2026
Fractured Lit: Ghost, Fable and Fairy Tales Prize
Deadline: 30 April 2026
The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition 2026
Deadline: 30 April 2026
The 2026 Furphy Literary Award Open Short Story Competition
Deadline: 1 May 2026
Trinidad + Tobago Film Festival Prizes
Deadline: 8 May 2026
Lọ́unlọ́un Issue 5: Fiction Open Call
Deadline: 9 May 2026
How To Make A Commonwealth Quilt
Deadline: 30 June 2026
Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize
Deadline: 1 July 2026
2027 BLR Literary Prize
Deadline: 1 July 2026
African Writers Award
Deadline: 1 July 2026
Na-La Mapambazuko Afrika Award
Deadline: 1 July 2026
The Wakini Kuria Prize for Children’s Literature
Deadline: 1 July 2026
African Teen Writers Award
Deadline: 1 September 2026
Climate Playwriting Prize
Deadline: 30 September 2026