Yale Drama Series Competition 2026

Submit your original, unpublished full-length English-language play for a chance to win $10,000, publication by Yale University Press, and a staged reading at Yale’s Schwarzman Center.

🔍 Quick Snapshot

Provider: Yale Drama Series / Yale University Press
Opportunity Type: Playwriting Competition / Literary Award
Prize: \$10,000 + Publication + Staged Reading
Deadline: 15 August 2025 (midnight EST)
Reading Date: October 2025 at Yale Schwarzman Center
Location: New Haven, CT, USA
Eligibility: Emerging playwrights worldwide

🌍 About the Competition

The Yale Drama Series Competition invites emerging playwrights globally to submit original, unpublished full-length plays in English. Winners receive a \$10,000 prize, publication by Yale University Press, and a fully staged reading at Yale’s Schwarzman Center, providing exceptional visibility in literary and theatre communities.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Original, unpublished, full-length English-language plays (minimum 65 pages)
Single-author works only; one submission per playwright
No translations, adaptations, musicals, children’s plays, or previously professionally produced/published works
Emerging playwrights; previous winners are not eligible
Submissions accepted worldwide, including Malaysia

🎁 Competition Benefits

\$10,000 David Charles Horn Prize
Publication by Yale University Press
Fully staged reading at Yale Schwarzman Center
Exposure to theatre professionals and academic literary circles

📝 How to Apply

Prepare your manuscript: formatted script ≥ 65 pages with anonymous title page and no author identifiers
Submit online via Yale Drama Series Submittable portal between 1 June and 15 August 2025 (midnight EST)
Optionally, mail a hardcopy postmarked within the same dates according to guidelines
Wait for notification of results, typically by late 2025