The Markaz Prize 2026-7

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

About TMR

The Markaz Review, affectionately known by its readers as TMR, is a nonprofit literary platform that amplifies original literature, arts, and freedom of expression for/from the Middle East, North Africa, and Southwest Asia (SWANA) — the region we refer to as the center of the world, stretching from Karachi to Casablanca. The name “Markaz” originates from the Aramaic and means “the center” in Arabic, Persian, Turkish, and Urdu, underscoring the cultural, ethnic, linguistic, and religious diversity of an area of the world that is often seen through a sensationalist lens and misrepresented or underrepresented on the world stage. We assert that our voices are critical components in the global production of literature, commentary, and cultural critique. In a world increasingly fragmented by all forms of racism and discrimination, TMR’s mission is to promote a critical culture that centers on human rights, in particular freedom of expression. We affirm that our voices are indispensable threads in the fabric of global literature and the arts.

For the inaugural edition of The Markaz Review Literary Prizes 2026-2027, we are proud to have the support of the de Groot Foundation, the Hawthornden Foundation, and other supporters, and to be working in close collaboration with the Caine Prize for African Writing.

Our vision in launching the TMR prizes is to discover and uplift exceptional writers from the SWANA region. We seek to recognize and celebrate excellence in two distinct genres, the short story and the literary essay/creative nonfiction.

At a Glance

Topics: Open themes in fiction and literary essay/creative nonfiction, focusing on high-quality writing. We are not accepting poetry or graphic/comic pieces.

Word count: 1,000–3,000 words.

Submission method: DUOSUMA.

Submission fee: $10. A limited number of fee waivers are available for writers who would otherwise be unable to apply — email literaryprizes@themarkaz.org to request one.

Contest deadline: Midnight (ET), Tuesday, September 15, 2026.

Winner announcement: Friday, January 29, 2027.

The Prizes

TMR is offering prizes in two categories: Short Story, and Essay/Creative Nonfiction.

First place: $3,000 cash prize; publication in The Markaz Review; a one-month writer’s retreat at Lake Como sponsored by the Hawthornden Foundation; an audience with the judges.

Second place: $1,000 cash prize and publication in The Markaz Review.

Eligibility

This prize is open to SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) writers and their diasporas.

Applicants must be 18 or older and must not have yet published a book of fiction or creative nonfiction.

Work translated into English from any language is welcome.

Submission Guidelines

We welcome submissions from agented and non-agented writers.
All entries must be original. We do not accept previously published material that has appeared online or in print. We do not accept AI-generated work.
If the entry is a translation, the cash prize will be split evenly between the author and the translator. The submitted work must be in English.
As much as we would like to, we cannot engage in correspondence regarding submissions or individual work.
You must pay your submission fee before submitting your entry.
We offer a limited number of entry fee waivers based on financial need — if you’d like to request one, please email literaryprizes@themarkaz.org with a short explanation of your situation.
Submit through DUOSUMA only. We do not accept attachments, photos, artwork, or entries submitted by any other method.
Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1.5 line spacing, black text.
Type your title once, above your work, on every page. Untitled entries receive a lower technical score.
At the end of your piece, list on the left: your name, email address, city or country, telephone number, and word count (excluding title, name, and contact details).
One submission per category, one submission per email address. Once submitted, a piece cannot be revised and resubmitted.
Total word count: 1,000–3,000 words.

Any of the following will result in disqualification:

Missing the deadline (midnight ET, September 15, 2026) — late payments will not be accepted.
Falling outside the 1,000–3,000 word count.
Submitting without a paid entry fee.
Submitting anywhere other than Duosuma.
Exceeding one submission per category or per email address.
Previously published material, in any form, online or in print.
AI-generated or AI-assisted work
Rewrites are not accepted – meaning, once you’ve submitted your work, you cannot revise the same piece and resubmit.

Instructions

When submitting your piece through DUOSUMA, make sure to include at the END of your piece:

Full name
E-mail address
City or country
Telephone number
Word count—this does not include your title, name, or your personal contact information.

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FAQs Section

What should I write about?
We welcome all forms of writing except poetry and graphic novels/comics. We do not accept AI-generated work.
How long should my entry be?
1000–3000 words. The word count does NOT include the title or your personal details.
Who is eligible for the contest?
The prize is open to writers over 18 who have not yet published a book of fiction or creative nonfiction. The contest is open to writers from the SWANA (Southwest Asia and North Africa) region, as well as writers whose work, heritage, lived experience, or creative practice is meaningfully connected to the region. Eligible applicants may be based anywhere in the
world and may identify with the SWANA region through nationality, ancestry, residency, language, culture, or lived reality. Applicants do not need to hold citizenship in a SWANA country, provided they can demonstrate a significant and authentic connection to the region
through their work or personal experience.

Translations from any language are embraced, provided the work is submitted in English.
How long must I wait before I hear the results?
We officially notify contestants who have made the longlist three months after the close of the contest, depending on the expedience of our guest judges. If you do not hear from us by then, you have not been selected. As much as we would like to, we cannot engage in correspondence regarding submissions or individual work.
Can I submit a piece that's been previously published?
No. All pieces must be original. We do not accept any work that has previously appeared online or in print.
Do you allow submitting to other contests at the same time?
Yes. If you end up placing in our contest and placing in another contest, it’s fine with us. If you need to withdraw, please let us know.
What is the entry fee?
$10.00 per entry via DUOSUMA. A limited number of fee waivers are available for writers who would otherwise be unable to apply. To request a waiver, please email us and explain your specific situation. Email: literaryprizes-at-themarkaz.org
May I send you a check or money order?
No.
May I enter more than once?
We accept only one submission per category. We accept only one submission per email.
Can you explain the judging process and who judges?
TMR’s editorial board will receive all entries, which will be blindly scored based on Subject, Content, and Technical categories and collaboratively narrow them down to a longlist of 15 submissions per category. Once the longlists are finalized, they are sent to the three judges assigned to the category (short story fiction and creative nonfiction essay), who will also judge blindly. The judges will then select a shortlist of five titles in each category before announcing the winners. The judges’ decision is final.
What do you mean by “blind judging”?
Blind judging means we remove all your contact info (name, email address, address, city, phone number, etc.) before we send your entry to our judges. This is to ensure fairness, so that all essays are judged equally. The only thing we might include is the writer's country of origin. This is so our judges will overlook spelling differences (e.g., color/colour).
What about rights?
The writer retains copyright to their work. If your entry wins, we publish it on the website and in our biannual anthology. The writer will always be consulted for consent before their piece is translated into the languages TMR works with (Arabic, French, and Spanish). The writer may republish the winning piece elsewhere, provided they mention that it was first published in The Markaz Review.
May I use a pen name/pseudonym?
Yes. Please make sure you include both your real name and your pseudonym. We will only publish your pseudonym if you win.
Does the entry have to be a complete essay, or can it be a partial/chapter of a larger work?
Your entry has to be an original, unpublished piece. We are not accepting any excerpts from previously published works.
Can I receive feedback on my entry?
As much as we would like to, we cannot engage in correspondence regarding submissions or individual work.
Do you notify me if I don’t win?
Unfortunately, we can’t personally respond to contestants who didn't place, but you can view the results on the contest winners’ page. You can also sign up for TMR’s free email newsletter to keep up with the latest updates on the contest, or follow TMR on social media. We will post updates as soon as we find out.