2026 William Saroyan International Prize for Writing

Submissions are now being accepted for the 12th William Saroyan International Prize for Writing. Two prizes of $5,000 each are given for works of fiction and nonfiction. The awards, co-sponsored by Stanford University Libraries and the William Saroyan Foundation, are intended to encourage new or emerging writers and honor the Saroyan legacy of originality, vitality, and stylistic innovation.

Submit five copies of your work published between January 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025 with a $50 entry fee by January 30, 2026. Writers who have published three or more books are ineligible. Visit the Saroyan Prize website for complete eligibility and submission details.

Congratulations to our 2024 Fiction Winner Mirinae Lee for 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster, and our 2024 Nonfiction Winner Fae Myenne Ng for Orphan Bachelors. View our complete list of 2024 winners and finalists.