Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize 2026: Competition Launch!
We are pleased to announce the launch of our annual Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize for 2026, with a quote specially chosen for America’s Semiquincentennial (250th) Year!
SUBMISSIONS OPEN 17TH SEPTEMBER 2025.
Each year a question or quote exploring Benjamin Franklin’s relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000-1500 words. The competition is open exclusively for young writers, aged 18-25, with a first prize of £750, and a second prize of £500.
Winning entries will be published online at www.BenjaminFranklinHouse.org and https://www.telegraph.co.uk/
Details:
The Franklin quote for 2026 – America’s Semiquincentennial Year (250 Years since the Declaration of Independence);
“A republic, if you can keep it.”
—Benjamin Franklin’s response to Elizabeth Willing Powel’s question: “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” – Monday, September 17, 1787
- Submissions Open: 9am, Wednesday, September 17th, 2025
- Submission Deadline: 5pm, Wednesday, November 19th, 2025
- Entries of 1000-1500 words must be sent via email to education@benjaminfranklinhouse.org;
- Emailed submissions must have the following subject – “[Your Name] Literary Prize 2026 Submission”;
- Entries must be attached in email as a Microsoft Word Document only;
- Entrants must be aged 18-25 years and living in the UK;
- Each Entrant is asked to provide their name, age, preferred email, postal address and phone number within the email. In addition, entrants should provide a short biographical note in the email body detailing their current activities;
- Entrants may submit only one entry; fiction or non-fiction;
- This is a free-to-enter competition.
After submissions close, we will announce 6 shortlisted young writers in December 2025/January 2026.
In early 2026, these writers will then be invited to an award ceremony at Benjamin Franklin House to celebrate their work, meet the judges, and see their entries on display. The winner and runner-up will also receive their prize money and see their work published online at Benjamin Franklin House and The Telegraph.
As part of our America 250 celebrations, we have selected a quote from Benjamin Franklin that reflects on his long lasting legacy as well as direct involvement in American independence. We welcome young writers to reflect of Franklin’s timeless words and apply them to our society today.
The 2026 Literary Prize Judges are;
- Lord Guy Black – Executive Director of the Telegraph Media Group
- Wendy Moore – English journalist, author, and historian
- Dr. Huw David – Development Director at Wolfson College, University of Oxford
- Rory Sutherland – Vice Chairman of Ogilvy Group and Board Member of Benjamin Franklin House
- Henry Wilkinson – Head of Education at Benjamin Franklin House
