The Queen's Commonwealth Writing Competition 2026
The Brief.
The world’s oldest international writing competition for schools (est. 1883). The 2026 theme is "Common Ground: Better Together", inviting young people to explore what unites the 2.5 billion citizens of the Commonwealth through essays, poems, stories, or scripts.
Important Timeline.
Application Process.
Select one prompt from the five key areas: Sport & Community, Culture, Environment, Shared Identity, or Language.
Write a piece (max 1,000 words) in English.
Ensure no personal details (name/school) are inside the document itself.
Submit via the online portal as a .doc, .docx, or .pdf.
Ready to start?
Click to open the verified official application host.