2026 Scribblebibble writing competition results

2026 Scribblebibble Writing Competition Results

2026 Results

We’re delighted to reveal the winners of the 2026 Scribblebibble Writing Competition, celebrating the imagination, originality and writing skill of young authors from across the world.

This annual contest, open to children and teenagers aged 7 to 18, attracted hundreds of entries submitted by parents, teachers, teaching assistants and tutors on behalf of young writers. Submissions arrived from around the globe, including Australia, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, the Czech Republic, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jamaica, Kenya, Malaysia, Malta, Morocco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, the Philippines, the Republic of Moldova, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates, the UK, the US and Vietnam.

Entrants were asked to write between 50 and 500 words, in any genre or form, based on one of Scribblebibble’s writing prompts. Stories, poems and nonfiction pieces were judged by a panel of writers and educators, who looked for originality, imagination, control of language, engagement with the chosen prompt and evidence of independent young authorship.

The 2026 competition produced a wonderfully varied field. Entries included tropical survival adventures, space missions, recycled rainbow waterslides, Arctic journeys, unsettling phone calls, wolfish journalism, protest poems, school mysteries, kitchen memories, dreamlike horror and strange secret narratives. Some young writers built whole worlds in a few paragraphs. Others used a single voice, image or conversation to create tension and surprise. Across the age groups, the best pieces showed confidence, individuality and a real willingness to take creative risks.

The 2026 Winning Entries

7-10 Age Group: “Living in the tropics” (UK)

 

Taking top honours in the youngest category is “Living in the tropics”, inspired by the Tropical Paradise writing prompt. The judges praised its vivid premise, surprise transformation and lively survival detail. “This is a richly imagined piece with danger, discovery and a proper ending that leaves the reader wanting more,” said the panel. “The mermaid shift gives the writing originality, while the sensory description keeps the tropical setting bright and full of life.”

Living in the tropics

I woke up in an unfamiliar place. Memories of the incident flooded back. I had been on a ship called Blue Tit. A storm had arisen and I had drowned.

As I looked around, lush greenery met me. I looked up, coconuts swung precariously above. An expert at climbing, I got a scrumptious-looking coconut. I ate ravenously. The coconut was so refreshing.

When I finished, I realised I was soiled. I headed towards the calm, sparkling, turquoise sea that had been a stampede of angry elephants just yesterday. The warm, golden sand crunched beneath my feet. When I waded through the water, I suddenly realised that I was going faster. In place of my legs, a glistening pink tail swished! A sense of calmness settled over me.

Never underestimate the beauty of the ocean. Colourful fish darted here and there. Rainbow coral was dotted around. Eels slunk past me. Sunlight shone on the sand. Sea turtles curiously looked at me from behind clumps of emerald seaweed which were making the sea as lush as the land.

After diving with dolphins, wiggling with eels and exploring the coral, I returned to land. My tail vanished and my legs reappeared. An intriguing smell wafted in the air.

I followed the smell to some beautiful flowers. I gaped at them in awe: every second they seemed to change colour. Butterflies and bees flitted around them. They were so exotic!

Later, I was trudging through the mud. Toucans twittered down at me. A nearby waterfall crashed even though I couldn’t see it. Monkeys peered at me. They seemed to wave at me!

Creepers hung from giant Sapele trees. Ferns were attached to some Acai palms.

Suddenly, the waterfall seemed closer and a leopard bounded in my path. For a few seconds, I stood rooted. Then I bolted away. Just as I thought I’d never get away, I came to a smooth tree. Instantly, I grasped it and nearly fell off, seeing how close the leopard was. Quickly, I remembered what I was doing and scampered up the tree. I peered through the leaves and saw the leopard slink away. I let my breath out and slowly descended.

Later, I found a small cave for a den. I had a long nap. After my nap, it was nearly dusk. I jumped up and began searching for food. A few turtle doves flew overhead, talking softly to each other.

Eventually I found some berries. Instantly I knew they were safe to eat because they were from the Acai palm. I found cinnamon trees and peeled off their bark. I found coconuts too. I returned to my den. My food nearly took all of my space in the den. I watched the sun clamber down from the sky to its blue bed.

Dreamily, I sprawled myself on the rough floor. Just as I drifted off to Dream Land, a flickering light caught my eye as it sprang through the trees. Tomorrow, I would discover it.

11-13 Age Group: “Unknown Number” (UK)

 

The winning entry for ages 11-13 is “Unknown Number”, created using the Telephone Conversation writing prompt. The judges admired its restraint, pace and dramatic control. “The dialogue does almost all the work here, and every pause increases the tension,” commented the panel. “The memory-loss twist is handled with real confidence, and the final reveal lands cleanly without over-explaining.”

Unknown Number

Alex: Hello?

Caller: Good evening. Am I speaking to Alex Carter?

Alex: Yes… who’s calling?

Caller: Thank you. I just wanted to check how you’re feeling today.

Alex: Um… fine?

Caller: That’s good to hear. You sounded more nervous the last time we spoke.

Alex: Sorry, I think you’ve got the wrong number.

Caller: No. I don’t.

Alex: I don’t remember talking to you before.

Caller: I know.

(Pause.)

Caller: Memory can be unreliable.

Alex: Who are you?

Caller: Someone who’s trying to help.

Alex: Help me with what?

Caller: You keep forgetting.

Alex: Forgetting what?

Caller: Tuesday.

Alex: Today’s Tuesday.

(Silent pause.)

Caller: No, Alex.

Alex: …What?

Caller: It’s Thursday.

Alex: That’s impossible.

Caller: Is it? Look at your phone.

(Alex unlocks it. The date reads Thursday.)

Alex: …

Caller: You lose time every now and then.

Alex: This isn’t funny.

Caller: I know. It wasn’t funny the first time either.

Alex: Stop saying that.

Caller: You’re frightened because you think I’m lying.

Alex: I know you’re lying.

Caller: Then answer one question.

Alex: Fine.

Caller: Why is there dried blood on your sleeve?

(Alex looks down. A faint reddish stain marks the cuff of the jumper.)

Alex: I… I don’t know.

Caller: Exactly.

(A long silence.)

Alex: What happened?

Caller: Every time I tell you… you refuse to believe me.

Alex: Tell me anyway.

Caller: No.

Alex: Why?

Caller: Because you’ll only ask me the same question tomorrow.

Alex: What are you talking about?

Caller: Check your call history.

(Alex opens his phone app.)

There are nine calls from the same unknown number.

Each one lasted exactly 12 minutes.

Alex doesn’t remember answering a single one.

Alex: …

Caller: See?

Alex: Who are you?

(The caller sighs.)

Caller: I already told you.

Alex: No, you didn’t.

Caller: Yes I did.

(A pause.)

Caller: I’m you.

(Another pause.)

Caller: …Or at least, the version of you that still remembers.

The caller hangs up.

14-18 Age Group: “Off White” (Pakistan)

 

In the oldest age group, “Off White”, inspired by the Secret Narratives writing prompt, was selected as the standout submission. “A strange, risky and memorable piece that turns baking into a tense metaphor for avoidance, fear and secrecy,” said the judges. “The fragmented form, odd repetitions and unresolved ending feel distinctive, while the pressure in the voice keeps building until the final line.”

Off White

“An apple tart, please,” he says.

My hands tremble.

The air gets thick around me.

This is my first order, I think, so I seem to be nervous.

The words follow me to the workstation, heavier than they should be.

I force the tart dough into shape, pressing into the pan’s center and sides.

I feel like it doesn’t want to be here,

like I am trying to shape it, but it just keeps resisting, I don’t know why,

When it finally gives in,

I pour the thick apple filling into it, the filling is sweet and fresh, but it also has a bit of spice, tanginess and dullness in it.

That’s weird, I wonder.

How can it be fresh and dull at the same time?

Maybe it can-

I tuck the edges of the dough slightly over the filling to shape it, but it keeps overflowing, I try repeatedly but it overflows every single time!

I don’t know why it is behaving this way, it is supposed to be an apple tart, but it feels as if it is missing something.

I cut thin strips of dough to place over it in a zigzag pattern.

To my surprise, it holds.

Or

I thought so.

The second strip falls in the filling, covering itself with the orange sauce. I should probably replace it with a new one, I think, but I don’t have the guts to, I fall short at the word “replace”, strange how sometimes simple words seem so heavy,

so I never replace it.

Or at least

for now I don’t.

I wipe the sauce from the dough strip until it is off white in color again and put it over the tart.

And this time,

it holds.

Once I am done layering it, I put the tart in the oven and wait for it to bake.

Meanwhile,

I go around and peek from behind the door to look at my customer,

of course,

to see if he is still there, so all my efforts don’t go in vain.

Once I have confirmed he’s still there, I go back in the kitchen and pull out the freshly baked apple tart from the oven, it truly smells incredible.

I check on him again, obviously, I would, anyone would, before serving, that’s what normal bakers do.

But I don’t-

I mean,

I don’t serve him,

despite my efforts,

Instead,

I put the tart inside a dark cupboard

And rush from the emergency exit at the back to run outside.

Why???

I ask myself.

Because it is my first time as a baker and I am nervous, so I don’t face him,

as a customer of course, my insides reply.

The cupboard is dark and mysterious.

Mysterious,

For me too,

the outside, on the other hand, is clear, bright and refreshing.

Sunlight asks nothing of me.

So I choose the outside.

While he waits and waits –

2026 Writing Competition Round-Up

Writing from Around the World

The global reach of this year’s competition was clear from the breadth of submissions. Young writers sent work from across Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania and the Americas, with stories, poems and nonfiction pieces shaped by many different places, experiences and imaginative starting points.

“We were struck by the range of ideas and voices in this year’s entries,” said the Scribblebibble panel. “Some pieces were playful and inventive, while others were tense, thoughtful or deeply personal. The strongest writing always felt specific to the young person behind it.”

Originality, Voice and Young Authorship

The judges looked carefully at originality, control of language, prompt adherence and evidence of independent child authorship. Many entries showed strong promise, from the recycled rainbow waterslide that became a flying machine to a clever reimagining of the Big Bad Wolf, a sharply observed kitchen memory and a school-library mystery with a compelling cliffhanger.

Several pieces were highly commended for creativity, atmosphere or ambition. In a year with hundreds of entries, choosing just three winners was not easy. The final selections stood out because they combined imaginative risk with a strong sense of voice and a clear response to the chosen prompt.

A Certificate for Every Young Writer

While only three written entries could be selected as overall winners, every participant received a certificate to recognise their achievement. Parents, carers and schools are encouraged to celebrate young writers locally, in line with their own privacy and data protection policies.

“Entering a writing competition takes courage, especially when the work is personal, imaginative or experimental,” said one judge. “We hope every entrant keeps writing, keeps reading and keeps trying out new ideas.”

Keep Writing with Scribblebibble

Scribblebibble’s annual writing competition runs from February 1st to June 30th each year. Entries are based on Scribblebibble writing prompts and can be submitted by parents, teachers, teaching assistants or tutors on behalf of young writers. For details, visit the Scribblebibble Writing Competition page or contact the Scribblebibble team.

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