2025–2026 Contest Calendar
Seven contests, open to students everywhere.
The New York Times Learning Network runs a year of free writing contests for students ages 13–19 — personal narratives, editorials, reviews, photo essays and podcasts. This is an independent guide that explains each contest in plain language and helps you enter with confidence.
each year
ages
fee
worldwide
01 · The Contests
A different way to write, every few weeks.
Across the school year the Learning Network opens one contest after another, each with its own form — a hundred-word memoir, an argument, a photo essay, a podcast. Every contest is free, open to students worldwide, and judged by educators and Times journalists. Here is the full season at a glance; tap any contest for the full guide.
See the full calendarMy Tiny Memoir
Tell a true story from your life in exactly 100 words. The micro-memoir rewards precision: one vivid moment, the right detail, and not a wasted word.
Local Lens: Photo Essays
Document the community you know best in a short series of original photographs with captions that, together, tell one story about a place.
My List: Student Review
Pick three to five works of art or culture, group them with a purpose, and argue in up to 600 words why people should (or shouldn’t) seek them out.
Open Letters
An open letter, in 500 words or fewer, to a person or group who could change an issue you care about. The Learning Network’s opinion-writing contest.
Audio Stories
Produce a short original podcast — up to five minutes of audio storytelling on any subject, told in your own voice and sound.
Voice & Choice: Summer Reading
Each week of summer, respond to anything in The Times that caught your attention. The long-running contest rewards curiosity, not length.
Growing Up With A.I.
A multimedia contest on how artificial intelligence is shaping teenage life. Enter with writing, art, audio or video — the season’s newest opportunity.
Windows are typical for the 2025–2026 season. Exact dates for each new year are announced on the official Learning Network in late summer — we keep this calendar updated.
02 · How it works
From idea to submission in three steps.
Choose a contest
Browse the calendar and pick the form that fits your voice. Every contest is free and open to students 13–19 worldwide.
Write & revise
Read past winners and the official rubric, draft, then cut hard. The strongest entries are revised many times before the deadline.
Submit on the NYT site
Entries go through the official Learning Network form during the open window. We walk you through eligibility, formatting and deadlines.
03 · Why this guide
Great contests, explained clearly.
The Learning Network has invited students to write for more than a decade, and tens of thousands enter every year. But the rules, rubrics and shifting deadlines can be hard to follow — especially for international students and families who are new to the U.S. contest calendar. This guide gathers everything in one place: what each contest asks for, when it opens and closes, who is eligible, and what judges actually reward.
We read the official announcements so you don’t miss a window, summarize past winners to show what “good” looks like, and translate the fine print into plain steps. Everything here points back to the official Learning Network for entry — we are a study companion, not the contest organizer.
Why bother entering at all? Because these contests offer something rare: a real audience and a real deadline, at no cost. The work stretches your thinking, the tight constraints sharpen your writing, and a published, runner-up or honourable-mention entry is a credential you can point to on a university application — verifiable, judged against thousands of peers, and entirely your own. Win or not, you finish a real piece of work and come back a stronger writer for the next one.
“Concise, vivid, true — the best entries find one moment and trust it.”
04 · Prepare
Resources, model entries & coaching.
Our resources library breaks down each contest’s rubric, links to official past winners, and offers craft notes on narrative, argument and revision. For students who want feedback before they submit, we also offer optional one-to-one writing coaching with experienced mentors.
05 · Frequently asked
Questions, answered.
Who can enter the contests?
The Learning Network’s contests are open to middle and high school students roughly ages 13–19, anywhere in the world. A few contests welcome younger or older participants — always check the specific rules for each one, which we summarize on every contest guide.
Are the contests really free?
Yes. There is no entry fee for any Learning Network student contest. You do not pay to submit, and winners are never charged. This guide is also free to read.
Do I need a New York Times subscription to enter?
No. Entering a contest does not require a paid subscription. Some prompts reference Times articles, and the Learning Network keeps much of its student-facing material free; where an article is paywalled, we point you to open alternatives.
Can international and Chinese students take part?
Yes. The contests are open to students worldwide, and entries are in English. International students compete on the same terms as everyone else. This guide pays special attention to questions that matter for students applying from outside the United States.
How are winners chosen?
Each contest is judged by a panel of educators and Times journalists against a published rubric. Winning, runner-up and honorable-mention entries are announced on the Learning Network and, for many contests, published on nytimes.com. We link to those announcements on our Winners page.
Is this the official New York Times website?
No. This is an independent educational guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by The New York Times Company. All official rules and entry forms live on the Learning Network at nytimes.com; we help you understand and prepare for them.
Get help
Have a question about your entry?
Message us on WhatsApp — we help with contest registration, one-on-one topic coaching, and full guidance to the deadline.