Our Creatives Flash Contests are back for 2026
It’s that time of year once again! We’re delighted to announce that our 2026 Creatives Flash Contests are here.
Following the success of last year’s contests, we’ll once again be inviting writers and artists to share work inspired by the landscapes, experiences, ideas and stories that shape the outdoor world.
Across October, November and December, we’ll launch three separate flash contests spanning poetry, non-fiction and fiction. Each will have its own sub-theme, all connected by this year’s overarching theme: ‘Formation’.
As with last year, we’re pleased to be accepting written submissions in English, Gaelic, Doric and Scots, celebrating the different voices and languages through which our landscapes and experiences can be explored.
We’re also inviting visual artists to get involved. Artists can submit one piece following the overall theme of ‘Formation’, with entries open until 31st December 2026.
We’re hugely grateful to the Fort William Mountain Festival and The Highland Bookshop for supporting this year’s contests. Each winning writer or artist will receive tickets to the Fort William Mountain Festival, £50 cash, and the opportunity to have their work featured in our Creatives publication and at Mountain Festival events.
Whether ‘Formation’ makes you think of geology and landscape, changing environments, personal journeys, communities or something else entirely, we’re looking forward to seeing where this year’s theme takes you.
October’s contest is Poetry, following the theme of ‘Emerging’. The deadline for October’s competition is 31/10/26, and the maximum word count is 60 words.
Flash Contest entries should follow our Creatives submission guidelines, but with the deadline and shorter word count outlined above. To submit, send your entry to creatives@scottishmountaineeringpress.com.
Keep an eye on our website and social channels for the next announcement of our 2026 Creatives Flash Contest.