NEA Literature Fellowships: Prose, FY 2026

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Creative Writing Fellowships program offers up to $50,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement. Applications are reviewed through an anonymous process in which the primary criteria for review are the artistic excellence and artistic merit of the submitted writing sample. Through this program, the NEA seeks to strengthen the literary arts ecosystem by sustaining and nurturing a wide range of creative writers at various stages of their careers and to continue to expand the portfolio of American art available to people from all backgrounds. The program operates on a two-year cycle with fellowships in prose and poetry available in alternating years. For FY 2026, which is covered by these guidelines, fellowships in prose are available. Fellowships in poetry will be offered in FY 2027 and guidelines will be available in January 2026. You may apply only once each year. Please note: competition for fellowships is extremely rigorous. We typically receive approximately 2,000 applications each year and award fellowships to fewer than 2% of applicants.