Lantern Lighters Contest 2026

Overview

The Lantern Lighters Contest 2026 is designed to provide a supportive platform for teen writers to develop their storytelling skills and gain experience in submitting their work. It aims to discover new and unique voices in the literary industry. The contest focuses on the theme of 'BELONGING', encouraging participants to explore this concept through their narratives. This initiative creates a safe environment for young writers to practice and refine their craft. Participants are invited to submit stories in genres such as contemporary, historical fiction, fantasy, and science fiction, ensuring that each entry centrally addresses the theme of belonging. The competition is specifically geared towards stories suitable for an upper Middle Grade and/or Young Adult audience, aligning with the target demographic of the participating writers. The contest emphasizes original content, with strict rules against AI-generated or AI-edited material, ensuring authenticity and individual creativity. It also maintains content guidelines to ensure submissions are appropriate for a broad audience. This contest serves as an excellent opportunity for aspiring teen authors to receive recognition, professional feedback, and a platform for their work.

What to build

Participants must write a short story centered on the theme of "BELONGING." The story should be suitable for an upper Middle Grade and/or YA audience and can be in the contemporary, historical fiction, fantasy, or science fiction genres.

Prizes

Key dates

• Submissions CloseSeptember 1, 2026

Eligibility

Participants must be teen writers. Stories should be written with an upper Middle Grade and/or YA audience in mind. Stories must not contain profanity, gore, or sexual content or innuendo. Stories must not be generated or edited by AI.

How to enter

1. Write a story based on the theme 'BELONGING' in an accepted genre (Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction).
2. Ensure your story is formatted in 12-point Times New Roman and paragraphs are double spaced.
3. Ensure your story does not exceed 1,000 words.
4. Verify your story does not contain profanity, gore, or sexual content/innuendo and is entirely original (no AI generation/editing).
5. Submit your story via the provided submission link (up to 2 submissions per author allowed).

Submission requirements

• Story formatted in 12-point Times New Roman
• Paragraphs double spaced
• Story does not exceed 1,000 words
• Original content (no AI generation or editing)
• No profanity, gore, or sexual content or innuendo

Resources

• Submit Your Story