Yale Drama Series International Playwriting Competition 2026 ($10,000 prize) – YOA

Deadline: August 15, 2025

Applications are open for the Yale Drama Series International Playwriting Competition 2026. The Yale Drama Series is an annual, worldwide competitors for rising playwrights, funded by beneficiant assist from the David Charles Horn Foundation. The profitable play might be chosen by the collection’ present choose, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.

Winners are chosen by the preeminent playwrights of our time. Edward Albee served because the Series’ inaugural choose (2007-2008), adopted by Sir David Hare (2009-2010), John Guare (2011-2012), Marsha Norman (2013-2014), Nicholas Wright (2015-2017), Ayad Akhtar (2018-2019), Paula Vogel (2021-2022).

Prize

• The winner of this annual competitors might be awarded the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000, publication of their manuscript by Yale University Press, and a staged studying on the Schwarzman Center at Yale University. 

Eligibility

• This contest is restricted to performs written within the English language. Worldwide submissions are accepted.
• Submissions have to be authentic, unpublished full-size performs, with a minimal of 65 pages. Plays with lower than 65 pages won’t be thought-about.
• Translations, diversifications, musicals, and kids’s performs will not be accepted.
• The Yale Drama Series is meant to assist rising playwrights. Playwrights could win the competitors solely as soon as.
• Playwrights could submit just one manuscript per yr. Only manuscripts authored by one playwright are eligible.
• Plays which were professionally produced or printed will not be eligible. Plays which have had a workshop, studying, or non-skilled manufacturing or which were printed as an actor’s version might be thought-about.
• Plays will not be below possibility, commissioned, or scheduled for skilled manufacturing or publication on the time of submission.
• Plays have to be typed/phrase-processed and web page numbered. Plays with pictures will not be accepted.
• The Yale Drama Series reserves the appropriate to reject any manuscript for any purpose.
• The Yale Drama Series reserves the appropriate of the choose to not select a winner for any given yr of the competitors and reserves the appropriate to find out the ineligibility of a winner, consistent with the spirit of the competitors, and based mostly upon the accomplishments of the creator.

Application

Electronic Submissions

The Yale Drama Series Competition strongly urges digital submission. By electronically submitting your script, you’ll obtain instant affirmation of your profitable submission and the power to check the standing of your entry.

If you’re submitting your play electronically, please omit your identify and phone info out of your manuscript and submission file identify. The manuscript should start with a title web page that exhibits the play’s title, a 2-3 sentence keynote description of the play, an inventory of characters, and an inventory of acts and scenes. Please enter the title of your play, your identify and phone info (together with tackle, cellphone quantity, and e-mail tackle), and a quick biography the place indicated within the digital submission kind.

Submit electronic form here

Hardcopy Submissions

The Yale Drama Series Competition strongly urges candidates to submit their scripts electronically, but when that’s not possible, they are going to settle for hardcopies.

If you’re submitting a tough copy of your play, the manuscript should start with a title web page that exhibits the play’s title and your identify, tackle, phone quantity, e-mail tackle (you probably have one), and web page depend; and, a second title web page that lists the title of the play solely, a 2-3 sentence keynote description of the play, an inventory of characters, and an inventory of acts and scenes. Include a quick biography on the finish of the manuscript, on a separate web page.

Do not bind or staple the manuscript. Do not ship the one copy of your work. Manuscripts can’t be returned after the competitors. If you would like receipt of your manuscript to be acknowledged, embrace an e-mail tackle on the title web page or a stamped, self-addressed postcard.

Send the manuscript to Yale Drama Series, P.O. Box 209040, New Haven, CT 06520-9040.

For extra info, go to Yale Drama Series International Playwriting Competition.