Writing Competition: The Moth Nature Writing Prize

THE MOTH NATURE WRITING PRIZE 2026 IS NOW OPEN

The Moth Nature Writing Prize is an international prize. It aims to encourage and celebrate the art of nature writing and is awarded annually to unpublished pieces of prose or poetry which best combine exceptional literary merit with an exploration of the writers’ relationship with the natural world. 

The winners are chosen by a single judge each year, who reads the stories anonymously. Previous judges include Richard Mabey, Helen Macdonald, Max Porter, Kathleen Jamie and Cal Flyn.

THE PRIZES

1st prize €1,000 and a week at The Moth Retreat
2nd prize €500
3rd prize €250

The winning pieces are published in the Irish Times online.

HOW TO ENTER

The Moth Nature Writing Prize is open to anyone over 16, as long as the work is original and previously unpublished. An entry consists of a single poem of any length (not a collection of poems) or a single piece of prose (fiction or non-fiction) of up to 4,000 words. The entry fee is €16 per poem or prose piece.

You can enter online or send your entry along with a cheque or postal order made payable to ‘The Moth Magazine Ltd.’ with an entry form or cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of your poem or story attached to:

The Moth

Ardan Grange 

Milltown, Belturbet, Co. Cavan

Ireland H14 K768

Please remember to read the terms & conditions before you enter.

Closing date 30 September.

If you would like to be notified of the results, please sign up to our newsletter here.

Winners announced in December.

Eligibility

• The Moth Nature Writing Prize is open to anyone over 16 at the time of entering.

• An entry consists of a single poem of any length (not a collection of poems) or a single piece of prose (fiction or non-fiction) of up to 4,000 words.

• Entries must be entirely the work of the entrant and must never have been published, self-published, published online or broadcast.

• English translations of work originally written in another language are acceptable as long as translator has permission, and author and translator agree to share prize money. 

• Simultaneous submissions accepted.

• AI-generated work is prohibited.

Prizes

1st prize €1,000 plus a week at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland, 2nd prize €500, 3rd prize €250.
The winning entries are published in the Irish Times online.

Fees

Entry fee €16 per poem or prose piece. 

Payment methods: online via PayPal; cheque (euro/sterling/dollar at current exchange rate) made payable to ‘The Moth Magazine Ltd’; credit/debit card via PayPal (to enquiries@themothmagazine.com); postal order (Ireland only) made payable to ‘The Moth Magazine Ltd’; cash (euro/sterling/dollar at current exchange rate).

Formatting

• Stories must not exceed 4,000 words in length.

• Poems can be any length (collections of poems not acceptable)

• Entries can be on any subject but must reflect concerns about or appreciation for the natural world.

• Entries must be written in English.

• Postal entries must be typed and clearly legible (recommend 12pt font).

Receipt of entry

• Enclose a stamped addressed postcard marked 'ACKNOWLEDGEMENT' if you require acknowledgement of receipt of postal entry (include international reply coupon if entering from overseas).

• Online entries are confirmed by the email receipt of your payment to PayPal.

More information here.