Open For Submissions: 61st Annual Alberta Playwriting Competition

DATE : February 16, 2026

DEADLINE: March 15, 2026 - 11:59 pm

NOW OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS!
Deadline: March 15, 2026 (11:59pm MST)
Entry Fee: $50

The Alberta Playwriting Competition, presented in association with Theatre Alberta, is the longest running provincial playwriting competition and offers the largest cash prize of any playwriting contest in Canada.

As the competition celebrates its 61st anniversary (making it one of the longest continually running playwriting competitions in the world) we have an opportunity to present the award in person as part of the 2026 Alberta Literary Awards (presented by the Writers’ Guild of Alberta).
In order to allow the jury necessary reading and adjudication time so that they can make a decision in advance of the event, we are moving the submission deadline for the competition from its previous date of March 31 forward to March 15, 2026 (11:59pm MST).

Prizes
The competition recognizes the most outstanding un-produced Alberta play with The Sharon Pollock Award ($5000 Cash Prize). It is open to all playwrights who reside in Alberta, whether they are members of the Alberta Playwrights’ Network or not.
A secondary prize (Novitiate Prize) may be awarded at the jury’s discretion to recognize the work of an un-produced playwright. There is no cash with the Novitiate Prize, but APN offers playwright and play development for the recipient.

Rules and Registration: www.albertaplaywrights.com/a-p-c