Submissions are now open for this year’s Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival Writing Competition, inspired by the theme ‘Reflections’.

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The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF) have opened submissions for this year’s Writing Competition which provides the opportunity for first-time writers to be published alongside established names.

The awards ceremony and publication help platform and explore the festival theme, as writers from across Scotland take inspiration in poignant, powerful, ingenious, personal and surprising ways. The theme for 2026 is Reflections. Submissions must explore mental health but this, and the theme, can be interpreted in any way you choose

There are three categories and writers are permitted to submit one piece in each category:

• FICTION: Short fiction pieces, including short stories, between 500 and 2000 words.
• POETRY: Poems, up to 40 lines.
• CREATIVE NON-FICTION: Creative writing with a factual basis, between 500 and 2000 words. Examples can include journaling, autobiographical writing, personal essays, letters and creative journalism.

This year, young writers aged 16–25 may also be considered for a new Young Writer Prize with entries in any of the above categories.

The jurors’ shortlisted entrants will be invited to read their entry at the awards ceremony during the festival. The shortlisted and winning pieces of writing will also be published in an illustrated print and digital book.

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How to enter:

• Entries must be submitted as a document or PDF file using the online submission form. You will also be asked for your contact details and a short description of your piece.
• The competition is free to enter and entrants must be based in Scotland.
• Entries must be typed and written in English or Scots.
• Entries must be your own original work. They must not have previously been published either in print or online, nor have been submitted to the writing competition in previous years.
• If you have any questions about the competition, require any support, or need to submit in another format for accessibility reasons, email smhaf@mentalhealth.org.uk.

Competition deadline: 23:59, Sun 7 August 2026

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The Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival (SMHAF) is one of Scotland’s most diverse cultural events, covering everything from music, film and visual art to theatre, dance, and literature. The festival aims to support the arts, explore how engagement in the arts can help prevent mental ill health, and challenge mental health stigma. Led by the Mental Health Foundation, SMHAF combines artistic quality with strong grassroots support, community engagement and social activism.