USA Scholarships
Ray Bradbury Award 2027 - $1,000 Writing
The Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy sits inside the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, the long-running teen creative program run by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. You do not mail a separate Bradbury application. Submit original writing through portal.artandwriting.org in any eligible category, then opt in to the Ray Bradbury Award prompt and explain how your piece uses speculative themes. The Ray Bradbury Foundation funds up to six $1,000 scholarships for work where supernatural, magical, futuristic, scientific, or technological ideas drive the narrative. Teens ages 13 and up in grades 7-12 across the United States, U.S. territories, military bases, and eligible American schools abroad may enter when the fall 2026 cycle opens. Regional affiliates set deadlines that typically begin in December 2026, so confirm your region before you upload.
What is the Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy?
Ray Bradbury spent a lifetime turning rockets, carnivals, and haunted futures into plain-spoken prose. The Ray Bradbury Foundation keeps that spirit alive inside the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, where young writers already compete for regional keys and national medals. The Bradbury prize adds a targeted $1,000 scholarship layer for stories that lean hard on imagination, science, or the uncanny.
You apply the same way every Scholastic writer does. Create an account at portal.artandwriting.org, upload an original piece in the category that fits, pay the regional fee or request a waiver, and sign the student and parent forms. The Bradbury-specific step is the opt-in prompt where you explain how supernatural, magical, futuristic, scientific, or technological ideas shape your narrative. Skip that box and you remain in the general pool only.
The 2026-2027 cycle opens in the fall, with regional deadlines that typically start in December 2026 and stretch into early 2027 depending on your affiliate. Up to six national winners receive $1,000 each, on top of whatever regional or national Scholastic honors their work earns. Grades 7-12 covers a wide skill range, so focus on a single polished piece with a clear speculative hook rather than scattering thin drafts.
If you love genre fiction but want a simpler cash contest, compare the Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship 2026. For micro-fiction practice before you tackle a full Scholastic category, see the 3-5 Sentence Story Scholarship 2026. Official entry steps and fee rules live on the Scholastic Awards how-to-enter page.
Eligibility
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✓Age 13 or older in grades 7-12You must be at least 13 and enrolled in grades 7 through 12 during the program year. The Scholastic Awards target middle and high school writers, not college undergraduates.
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✓Eligible Scholastic regionLive in the United States, a U.S. territory, a U.S. military base, or attend an American school abroad that maps to a Scholastic region. Look up your affiliate at artandwriting.org/regions before you create a portal account.
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✓Original writing in an Awards categorySubmit new work you created for the current cycle. You may enter multiple pieces in different writing categories, but each upload must follow Scholastic category rules and word limits.
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✓Speculative themes in the narrativeBradbury winners use supernatural, magical, futuristic, scientific, or technological elements as a key story driver. Pure realism without those threads fits other Scholastic categories better than this opt-in prize.
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✓Opt in to the Ray Bradbury Award promptDuring online submission, select the Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy and complete the personal statement about your work. Skipping the opt-in means judges will not consider you for the $1,000 scholarships.
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✓Entry fee or approved fee waiverMost regions charge $15 per individual writing entry and $40 for senior portfolios. Request a fee waiver in the portal if your family cannot afford the fee; the Alliance trusts self-reported need.
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✓Signed student and parent formsSubmission forms require your signature and a parent or guardian signature even when your school does not require an educator co-signer.
Benefits
- Bradbury scholarship Up to $1,000 each (6 awards)
- National recognition Part of Scholastic Awards honors
- Publication opportunities Alliance programs for medalists
- Any writing category Opt in from eligible genres
- Full college tuition Not covered
- Automatic renewal One-time prize per winning work
- Gold Key / Silver Key / Honorable Mention Regional medals
- National medals and scholarships Separate category prizes
- Entry fee $15 individual / $40 portfolio (waivers available)
- Guaranteed Bradbury win Competitive juried selection
Document checklist
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✓Completed writing pieceUpload your story, script, poem suite, or other eligible writing file in the Scholastic category that best fits the work. Follow the category word-count and formatting rules on artandwriting.org.
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✓Portal.artandwriting.org accountRegister with your grade, school or homeschool status, email, home address, and parent or guardian contact details before you attach files.
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✓Educator connection (when required)Link your entry to a registered educator at your school when the portal asks. Homeschooled teens follow affiliate guidance if no teacher appears in the list.
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✓Bradbury opt-in personal statementAnswer the Ray Bradbury Award prompt about how speculative themes shape your piece. Treat it as part of the judged package, not an afterthought.
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✓Submission form signaturesCollect digital signatures from you and a parent or guardian on the Scholastic submission form attached to each entry.
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✓Entry fee payment or waiverPay through Stripe where your region allows online payment, or follow cash or check directions from your regional affiliate. Select a fee waiver instead if cost is a barrier.
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✓Portfolio extras (seniors only)Graduating seniors submitting a writing portfolio must include the required number of pieces plus artist or writer statements defined for the current program year.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Ray Bradbury Award for Science Fiction & Fantasy?
It is a Scholastic Art & Writing Awards special prize funded by the Ray Bradbury Foundation. Up to six students receive $1,000 scholarships for writing where supernatural, magical, futuristic, scientific, or technological themes are central to the story.
How do I apply for the Ray Bradbury Award?
Enter the Scholastic Awards at portal.artandwriting.org, submit original work in any eligible writing category, and opt in to the Ray Bradbury Award prompt with a personal statement about your piece. There is no separate Bradbury-only form.
Who is eligible for the Ray Bradbury Award?
Teens ages 13 and up in grades 7-12 who enter through an eligible Scholastic region in the United States, U.S. territories, military bases, or qualifying American schools abroad. You must follow Scholastic originality and category rules.
When is the Ray Bradbury Award deadline for 2027?
Deadlines are set by your regional affiliate, not one national date. Scholastic writing regions often open in the fall and begin closing in December 2026, with many deadlines in January or February 2027. Check artandwriting.org/regions for your exact day.
How much is the Ray Bradbury Award scholarship?
Each Ray Bradbury Award recipient receives a $1,000 scholarship. The Alliance announces up to six winners when national special awards are released.
Can I submit poetry or a screenplay for the Ray Bradbury Award?
Yes. Official guidance allows any Scholastic writing category. Opt in to the Bradbury prompt when your work uses speculative themes as a key narrative element, even if the piece lives in Poetry, Flash Fiction, or Scriptwriting.
Is the Ray Bradbury Award the same as the Speculative Fiction category?
No. Speculative Fiction is a Scholastic writing category (formerly Science Fiction & Fantasy). The Ray Bradbury Award is an optional scholarship layered on top of any eligible category when you answer the Bradbury prompt during submission.
Do I have to pay to enter the Scholastic Awards for Bradbury consideration?
Most regions charge $15 per individual entry. Fee waivers are available in the portal for teens who cannot afford the cost, supported in part by BLICK Art Materials and regional partners.
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