New York Times Summer Reading Contest

Overview

The New York Times Summer Reading Contest is an annual competition that encourages students to engage with various forms of New York Times content, including articles, essays, videos, and podcasts. Participants are asked to choose a piece that sparks their interest and explain why it caught their attention, making personal connections and demonstrating critical thinking. The competition runs for ten weeks during the summer, with a new question posed each week, inviting students to respond to current Times content. This recurring challenge allows for continuous engagement throughout the summer period, with submissions accepted weekly. Each week, a panel of judges from the Times newsroom selects their favorite responses. The winning entries are then published in The Learning Network, offering students a unique opportunity to see their work featured by The New York Times and gain recognition for their analytical and writing skills. The contest aims to foster critical thinking, reading comprehension, and persuasive writing among young readers, encouraging them to explore global issues and connect them to their personal lives. It is a free-to-enter competition open to eligible students globally.

What to build

Participants must choose any article, essay, video, interaction, podcast, or photo published in the New York Times that has sparked their interest. They then write or create a video response explaining "What got your attention in The Times this week, and why?". The response should analyze the chosen piece and make personal connections.

Prizes

Key dates

• Contest Start Date (Week 1)June 5, 2026
• Submission Deadline (Week 1)June 12, 2026
• Submission Deadline (Week 2)June 19, 2026
• Submission Deadline (Week 3)June 26, 2026
• Submission Deadline (Week 4)July 3, 2026
• Submission Deadline (Week 5)July 10, 2026
• Submission Deadline (Week 6)July 17, 2026
• Submission Deadline (Week 7)July 24, 2026
• Submission Deadline (Week 8)July 31, 2026
• Submission Deadline (Week 9)August 7, 2026
• Submission Deadline (Week 10)August 14, 2026
• Winners Announcement (Weekly)Every Tuesday during the contest

Eligibility

Students aged 13 to 19 years old anywhere around the world are invited to submit. Students who are directly related to New York Times employees or live in the same household as those employees are not eligible to enter this contest. Students must work alone. If students are 13 to 19 years old in the United States and Britain, or 16 to 19 years old elsewhere in the world, they can submit by commenting on the post itself. If students are 13 to 15 years old anywhere in the world, except in the United States and Britain, then a teacher, parent, or guardian should submit an entry on the student’s behalf.

How to enter

1. Choose any article, essay, video, interaction, podcast, or photo published in the New York Times.
2. Formulate a written or video response to the weekly question: "What got your attention in The Times this week, and why?"
3. For written responses, if you are 13-19 years old in the US/Britain, or 16-19 years old elsewhere, submit by commenting on the contest post.
4. For written responses, if you are 13-15 years old elsewhere (not US/Britain), have a teacher, parent, or guardian submit on your behalf using the form embedded at the bottom of each week’s post.
5. For video responses, submit through the form (link provided when contest opens), providing parent/guardian contact information and permission.
6. Limit to one submission per person per week.

Submission requirements

• Submissions must be individual work.
• For written responses: 1,500 characters or about 250 words.
• For written responses: Include the URL or headline of the chosen Times piece.
• For video responses: 90 seconds or fewer.
• For video responses: Say or show the headline of the Times piece being discussed.
• For video responses: May not use any images, video clips, music, or sound effects other than those appearing in the Times piece or self-created.
• For video responses: Do not include anyone else in the video.
• Response should make personal connections to the news and discuss broader questions/ideas raised by the topic.
• Submissions must follow all contest guidelines regarding age and submission method based on region.

Judging criteria

• Personal Connections: Response explains how the Times piece connects to the writer’s own life, interests, questions, or concerns, exploring the relationship between the reader and the topic or text.
• Critical Thinking: Response traces aspects of the writer’s thinking while engaging with the text, including details of what the writer noticed and wondered, connections made, emotional reactions, critiques of the piece, and more.
• References to Times Source Material: Via the use of quotes or references to specific details from the text, response shows evidence that the writer read closely and reacted to new or notable information or ideas.
• Voice and Style: Response is written in a natural and engaging voice and uses language, style, and tone appropriate to its purpose. Features correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Guidelines: Submission follows all contest guidelines.

Resources

• Complete Guide to the New York Times Summer Reading Contest
• Aralia Student’s 3-Year Path to Success: NYT Honorable Mention & John Locke Shortlist
• Aralia Student Is a Winner in The NYT Summer Reading Contest 2025
• Aralia Students Won Championship and Honorable Mention Award in the NYT Summer Reading Contest 2025