Theme for 2026
Horror
The Prize
A £10,000 cash award, a rehearsed reading of the winning play, and mentorship opportunities with members of the judging panel.
What to Submit
Writers should submit a full-length horror play (approximately 70–120 minutes).
The play must be:
- Original, written in English
- Unproduced and unpublished
- Not previously awarded any prizes
- Not based on existing intellectual property or adaptations
Eligibility
To enter the Mainstage Prize, playwrights must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Be based in the UK or Ireland
- Have had at least one professional stage production (a run of two weeks or more with paid cast)
- Own the copyright to the submitted play and be free to submit it
Read more about what the Mainstage Prize Team are looking for as well as how to submit, head over to their website here.
Deadline: 1 August 2026
Source: BBC Writers