The New York Times Student Contests

The New York Times holds a series of annual contests for students. Contest offerings vary by year but generally include challenges such as creating narratives, profiles, opinion pieces, reviews, podcasts, videos, illustrations and photo essays.

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Here is the 2025-2026 contest schedule: 

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Growing Up WithA.I.: A MultimediaContest | Sept. 10-Oct. 22, 2025 

Show us- - in words, images, audio or video - how the rise of artificial intelligence is affecting the generation in high school now. Both students and educators may participate. 

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100-Word Personal NarrativeContest | Oct. 22-Dec. 3, 2025 

In 100words or fewer, tell a powerful story about a meaningful life experience. 

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'Local Lens' Photo Essay Contest | Dec. 3, 2025-Jan. 14, 2026 

Create a photo essay that spotlights some aspect of life in the place you live. 

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'My List' Review Contest | Jan. 14 -Feb. 25, 2026 

Choose anycollection of three to five works of art or culture to group in some way, and then tell us whywe should -or shouldn't check them out. 

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Open Letter Contest | Feb. 25-April 8, 2026 

Write a letter to a specific person or group that persuadesthem to make a change on an issue that mattersto you. 

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Podcast Contest | April 8-May 13, 2026 

Make an original podcast of no more than five minutes that informs or entertains listeners. 

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Summer Reading Contest | June 5-Aug. 14, 2026 

Every week for 10 weeks we ask, "What got your attention in The Times recently?" Answer in writing or video. 

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Weekly Current Events Conversation | All School Year 

Respond to our daily writing prompts. Each week we publish a selection of student comments.

• All contests are open to students around the world ages 13 to 19 who are in middle school or high school. College students cannot submit entries.
• Students ages 19 or under who have completed high school but are taking a gap year or are otherwise not enrolled in college can participate. 
• The children and stepchildren of New York Times employees are not eligible to enter these contests, nor are students who live in the same household as those employees.
• Students’ entries must be original and fundamentally their own. An entry must not be published elsewhere at the time of submission, including in a school newspaper, on a radio station’s website or in a literary magazine.

• Deadlines vary by contest, see the full schedule here.

• On the day each contest begins, New York Times will add a link here so students and teachers can submit entries. All contests except Summer Reading begin and end on Wednesdays.
• Students can enter as many contests as they want, but they can submit only one entry per contest. (The Summer Reading Contest, however, offers a fresh opportunity to submit each week for 10 weeks).