Check out our previous contest winners.
2024 Writers Contest Winners
2023 Writers Contest Winners
2022 Writers Contest Winners
2021 Writers Contest Winners
2020 Writers Contest Winners
Calling All Young Writers
Let’s spark creativity and a love of storytelling in every child!
The 2026 WQED Writers Contest ran from January 5 – March 31, 2026. For 17 years, this beloved program has encouraged children across our region to build literacy skills, express creativity, and share their unique voices. This year, we’re excited to expand the contest to include students in grades K–5, now welcoming 4th and 5th graders!
There’s no required theme—young authors are free to let their imaginations soar and create any original story they wish. All participants are invited to both write and illustrate their own stories, and WQED will return all submissions at our expense.
More than 16,000 local students have taken part in this fun and educational experience over the years. We hope you’ll help inspire the next generation of storytellers—whether by encouraging a young writer at home or incorporating the contest into classroom activities. We can’t wait to read the stories they create!
Thanks for all of your entries! Submissions for 2026 are now closed.
Stay tuned for our winners announcement!
Resources
Looking for an exciting kid friendly Podcast?
The Education Team at WQED has created a fun interactive podcast series featuring our very own Writers Contest story winners. Kids of all ages read their stories to YOU!
Need inspiration or tips for illustrating your story?
Pittsburgh cartoonist Joe Wos leads students through the creative steps of drawing cartoon characters, while sharing educational facts on the cartoon subjects in WQED Cartoon Academy. Explore techniques and learn artistic terms during each lesson.