The world’s oldest international school writing competition returns in 2026. The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition (QCWC) – delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883 – will officially open for submissions on 4 March 2026. Young writers across the Commonwealth are invited to submit original, creative pieces responding to themes inspired by Commonwealth values.
A Tradition of Storytelling Across Generations
Under the patronage of Her Majesty Queen Camilla, the competition has reached more than 200,000 young people in the past decade, supported by over 5,000 volunteer judges and hundreds of participating schools. It provides a global platform for young voices to explore topics such as identity, environmental sustainability, equality, and leadership.
Each year, the winning writers and their guardians are flown to the United Kingdom for a week of cultural, literary, and educational activities, culminating in a prestigious Award Ceremony at Buckingham Palace.
Who Can Enter?
The competition is open to:
- Nationals or residents of any Commonwealth country or territory
- Residents of Hong Kong, Ireland, and Zimbabwe
- Entrants from non-Commonwealth countries with an active RCS branch or partner organisation (entries must be submitted locally)
Two main age-based categories exist (Junior and Senior), each with four writing prompts that will be released at launch.
Awards & Recognition
Participants receive recognition at several levels:
- Overall Winner (drawn from regional winners)
- Regional Winners (x5)
- Gold, Silver, and Bronze Awards
- Certificates of Participation for all entrants and schools
Top winners are invited to London for an all-expenses-covered cultural programme, including the Buckingham Palace ceremony. Many local RCS branches also hold regional prize events.
What the Judges Are Looking For
Judges encourage:
- Originality, creativity, and a strong personal voice
- Clear engagement with one chosen topic
- Competent English, with good spelling and punctuation
- Diverse and innovative uses of English from across the Commonwealth
- A variety of forms: letters, essays, poems, plays, stories, or articles
- Entries that are thoughtfully presented (illustrations welcome when meaningful)
AI-generated writing is not accepted. Judges actively monitor for authenticity.
Key Rules
- Maximum word count: 1,000 words
- One entry per person
- Entries must respond to one of the announced topics
- Entrants receive a confirmation email with a unique reference number after submitting online
How to Stay Updated
Full writing prompts, entry instructions, and submission links will be released on 4 March 2026. Follow @RoyalCWSociety on social media for the latest announcements.
For questions about submissions or results, contact:
competitions@royalcwsociety.org
(Include your name and QCWC 2025 reference number if applicable.)
Whether you’re an aspiring poet, storyteller, or essayist, the Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition is your chance to share your voice with the world — and become part of a 140-year legacy of young writers shaping the future.
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