Do you know a talented young writer or artist?

Emerald Coast Writers' Annual Youth Writing and Art Contest is seeking submissions from K-12 public/private schools and homeschooled students in Escambia (Florida and Alabama) Santa Rosa, Bay, Okaloosa, Walton, Baldwin and Mobile counties. Students may enter work in up to four categories: poetry, fiction, nonfiction and the visual arts.

The 2026 theme is "Once Upon a Time." Entries can be modern fairy tales or a story that takes place a long time ago in a kingdom far, far away with dragons, unicorns or sorcerers and sorceresses. Or even something inspired by a time in your life that has now passed. The possibilities are endless.

Students with ideas for a story, poem, essay, drawing, painting or photograph related to the theme are encouraged to sign up and submit their original perspectives to www.emeraldcoastwritersinc.org.

The contest will open January 1st and the deadline to submit is April 1 at midnight. Each winner will be invited to an awards ceremony on May 16 at the West Florida Library in downtown Pensacola and will receive a gift card, as well as a free copy of an anthology featuring their winning entry.