Terms and Conditions of participation

By submitting an entry to The Hope Prize, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions (together, the "Agreement"). This forms an agreement between you and us. This Agreement sets out the rules of the competition and the rights and responsibilities of both parties.

1. Overview and Prizes

1.1 The Hope Prize is an international short story competition open to eligible authors who submit original works of fiction or memoir that explore themes of hope, courage, or resilience (“Submissions”).

1.2 Winners will be awarded cash prizes as follows:

• First Prize: AUD $10,000

• Second Prize: AUD $2,000

• Third Prize: AUD $1,000

1.3 Winners and shortlisted Submissions may also be published in The Hope Prize anthology. 

2. Timeline for The Hope Prize

2.1 The timeline for the 2026 Hope Prize is:

• Entries open on 1 June 2026. 

• Early bird entries close on 31 July 2026. 

• Voices We Need Program applications close on 10 October 2026, or earlier if we reach capacity. 

• Entries close on 31 October 2026 at 11.59pm AEDT. 

• We expect to announce shortlisted entries and winners in March 2027. 

2.2 If timelines change (for example, due to technical issues or unforeseen circumstances), we’ll notify entrants as soon as possible.

2.3 To preserve the integrity of our judging process, the long list and shortlist announcements will not be made until after the winner is determined.

3. Eligibility & Entry Requirements

3.1 The Hope Prize is open to individuals aged 18 and over at the time of the submission deadline on 31 October 2026. 

3.2 Writers from anywhere in the world are welcome to enter. 

3.3 The Hope Prize is not open to our employees or contractors, our partners, judges, anyone professionally involved in the administration of the competition or the immediate families of any of those persons.

3.4 To be eligible for The Hope Prize, your Submission must: 

(a) be an original short story or narrative nonfiction;

(b) be written in English;

(c) be no more than 5,000 words;

(d) explore themes of hope, courage, or resilience;

(e) be written by the person submitting the application (“Applicant”);

(f) be written without the use of any artificial intelligence writing tools to generate or substantially write or rewrite any part your entry;

(f) not have previously been published in a commercial context (e.g. in books, magazines, journals, or paid websites);

(g) be submitted on or before The Hope Prize closing date; and 

(h) be submitted in accordance with the requirements of these Terms & Conditions, including the payment of the relevant submission fee.

3.5 You’re welcome to submit more than one piece, provided you complete a separate form and pay the relevant fee for each entry.

3.6 You must not publish or authorise the publication of your Submission in a commercial context until either (a) we notify you that the Submission has not won or been shortlisted, or (b) your Submission has been published as part of The Hope Prize anthology. 

3.7 Decisions by us on eligibility are final.

4. How to Enter

4.1 Entries must be submitted via Subfolio, in either Word (.doc/.docx) or PDF format. Each entry must include a completed entry form.

4.2 Manuscripts must:

(a) be double spaced;

(b) be set in size 12-point Times New Roman font (or a font of a similar size and readability);

(c) not include any information identifying the Applicant (name, email, etc.) to ensure anonymous judging.

4.3 Submissions must be accompanied by payment of a non-refundable applicable fee via Subfolio at the time of entry as follows:

(a) $25 AUD per submission for entries received before 11:59pm EST, 31 July 2026; 

(b) $33 AUD per submission for entries after 31 July 2026 but before 11:59pm AEDT, 31 October 2026. 

(c) if your entry has been accepted for a fee-waiver under the Voices We Need Program, you do not need to pay any submission fee.

4.4 Voices We Need Program: 

(a) entrants who are affected any of the following may apply for a waiver of the submission fee under the Voices We Need Program:

• war, conflict, or occupation;

• forced migration or statelessness;

• entrenched poverty; or

• systemic barriers (including those related to race, class, geography, incarceration or identity) that make the entry fee unaffordable.

(b) only one fee-waiver is available per writer;

(c) potential applicants may apply for a fee-waiver by emailing email hello@thehopeprize.com with the subject line “The Voices We Need”, together with a short statement of need; and

(d) any decision by us to provide a writer with a fee-waiver is final.

4.5 It’s your responsibility to ensure your entry is submitted correctly. We can’t take responsibility for entries that are late, misdirected, or incomplete.

4.6 Withdrawing your entry: You can withdraw your story at any time in the Subfolio portal. Please note that entry fees are non-refundable.

4.7 The submission platform is provided by a third-party provider (Subfolio), and while we make reasonable efforts to ensure the platform functions smoothly, we are not liable for platform outages, errors, or malfunctions. Entrants are encouraged to submit early to avoid technical issues.

5. Judging

5.1 Our judging panel includes at least two qualified individuals with experience in literature, creative writing, publishing, or related fields. The judges' names will be published on our website.

5.2 The panel will select up to 20 highly commended entries, including a First Prize winner (AUD $10,000), a Second Prize winner (AUD $2,000), and a Third Prize winner (AUD $1,000). 

5.3 Due to the number of submissions, we’re unable to provide individual feedback or comments on entries.

5.4 Judging decisions are made with great care and are final. No correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome.

5.5 While we intend to follow this process as outlined, we reserve the right to make adjustments if necessary.

6. Copyright Ownership 

6.1 You retain copyright ownership of your Submission. 

7. Licences

7.1 You grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence from the date of entry, allowing us to store, copy, and use your Submission for judging and administrative purposes, including to sub-licence those rights to others for those purposes.

7.2: If your Submission is shortlisted (winners and highly commended Submissions):

(a) you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual licence to use and authorise the use of the whole or any part of your Submission to: 

• publish the whole or part of your Submission in any form, whether alone, as part of a Hope Prize anthology, or in combination with any other content. (This includes publication in print, eBook, website, translation, audio book, accessible (such as large print or braille)), serial, book club, quotation, abridgment, digest, educational and special edition form);

• use, edit, reproduce, distribute, publish and communicate to the public your Submission for such publications, for the promotion of such publications, and for the purpose of supporting or promoting The Hope Prize and its mission.

(b) You acknowledge that you will not receive any payment or royalty in return for any of the uses in (a). All royalties that we are entitled to or receive will be donated to our chosen partner charity.

(c) If we ask, you agree to send us a picture of you and biographical material for publication (Additional Material). You give us and our licensees permission to use the Additional Material in advertising, promotion and publicity.

(d) We will take reasonable steps to ensure that you are credited as the author and copyright owner of the Submission in any publication.

(e) We may ask you revise your Submission for the purpose of publication (for example, in accordance with publishable standards or if there are legal concerns with any content). You agree to work with us in good faith to amend or modify the Submission if we make this request. You acknowledge that if you refuse to make such changes, your Submission may not be published.

(f) In the event copyright in a shortlisted Submission is infringed, you agree to consult with us or take such reasonable steps as we may reasonably request to take action.  

8. Your Warranties

8.1 You warrant: 

• your Submission is your own original creation. It was written by you, without the use of any artificial intelligence writing tools to generate or substantially write or rewrite any part your entry;

• your Submission has not been previously published in a commercial context, and will remain unpublished in a commercial context until the time specified in clause 3.6;

• your Submission, and any Additional Material that you provide us,  doesn’t infringe anyone else’s rights, and does not include any material that would cause us or our licensees to infringe anyone else’s rights if we exercise our rights under this agreement. Those rights include (without limitation) copyright, moral rights, confidentiality, and privacy;

• your Submission doesn’t contain material that is defamatory, libellous or obscene, injurious to the health of the reader, or material that would be unlawful if published; and

• you are able to give us the licences that you are giving to us under this agreement, and you have not entered into any inconsistent arrangements.

8.2 You agree to indemnity us, and hold us harmless, against any claim, loss, liability, damage, cost or expense incurred as a result of a breach of the warranties that you have given under clause 7.1.

8.3 If any legal issues arise in relation to your story, you agree to work with us in good faith to resolve them.

9. Use of your information

9.1 We will use any personal information for the administration of the Hope Prize, and for any publication, marketing or other purposes to which you have consented. We will only share your personal information to the extent necessary to deliver or promote The Hope Prize, or to exercise our rights under the licence under clause 7. This may involve sharing your sponsors or partners involved in The Hope Prize or with our licensees.. 

9.2 You give us permission to publish your name as part of the announcement of any longlist, shortlist or winner, and any associated promotion of The Hope Prize and its mission.

9.3 If you have any questions or concerns about the use of your personal information please contact us by email at hello@thehopeprize.com

10. Tax Implications

10.1 Prize winners are responsible for any tax implications arising from their prize money. 

10.2 Where required by law, The Hope Prize may withhold taxes from prize payments or report prize payments to relevant tax authorities. 

10.3 International winners are responsible for understanding and complying with any applicable tax obligations in their country of residence. 

11. Unforeseen Circumstances

We take great care in running The Hope Prize, but in the event of the unexpected:

11.1 A "Force Majeure Event" means any event beyond our reasonable control that affects the running of The Hope Prize, such as natural disasters, pandemics, technical failures, or major disruptions to services or suppliers.

11.2 If a Force Majeure Event occurs, we may modify the competition timeline, judging process, prize structure, or publication plans as needed. We’ll do our best to notify entrants of any major changes.

11.3 If unforeseen events beyond our control prevent The Hope Prize from proceeding, we reserve the right to cancel the competition. In such cases, we may offer partial or full refunds at our discretion, but refunds are not guaranteed.

11.4 We are not responsible for any loss, delay, or disruption caused by events beyond our control.

12. Governing Law

12.1 These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia. 

12.2 Any disputes arising in connection with The Hope Prize shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria, Australia.

12.3 In this agreement, “we”, “us” or “our” refers to I.C Amy & L.A Amy (a partnership), trading as Hope Prize (ABN 72 401 067 792).

13. Liability

13.1 To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not responsible for any loss, damage, or disappointment that may result from entering (or not being able to enter) The Hope Prize, or from any changes or cancellations.

13.2 We are not liable for any indirect or unforeseen losses.

13.3 To the maximum extent permitted by the law, our total liability to you will be limited to the amount you paid in entry fees.

13.4 We reserve the right to change, suspend, or cancel The Hope Prize at any time due to unforeseen circumstances.

13.5 We may update these Terms and Conditions as needed. Any major changes will be posted on our website, and changes made after you've entered won’t apply to you without your consent.

14. Assignment

14.1 You consent to us assigning our rights and obligations under this agreement to a corporate entity set up for purposes that include the running The Hope Prize and publishing submissions, whether from 2026 or any other year.

In this agreement, “we”, “us” or “our” refers to I.C Amy & L.A Amy (a partnership), trading as Hope Prize (ABN 72 401 067 792).

Contact

For all enquiries, please email: hello@thehopeprize.comFollow us on Instagram: @hopeprize