Calling All Dreamers, Doodlers, and Storytellers - The 2026 Young Authors Contest Is On!
Remember the first time a story grabbed you and wouldn’t let go? Maybe it was The Lion King under a blanket fort, Harry Potter under a flashlight, or the moment you realized your own doodles could tell a story as wild as any comic book. Every writer starts there, with one idea that refuses to stay quiet.
That spark is exactly what the Young Authors Contest is all about...a chance for Southern Arizona students from kindergarten through 12th grade to turn their imagination loose and share it with the world.
Hosted by Altrusa International of Tucson and the Tucson Festival of Books (with help from TMC Health, The Arizona Daily Star, and The University of Arizona, this annual tradition celebrates the voices of Tucson’s next generation, the kids who might just write the next great novel, movie, or even comic universe.
Here’s how it works:
Winning entries will be published in the official 2026 Young Authors Anthology, and each winner will score a $100 gift certificate to the UA Campus Store, just in time to load up on books, notebooks, or maybe even a Wildcat hoodie.
Entries can be mailed to:
Young Authors Contest
Altrusa International of Tucson, Inc.
PO Box 42801
Tucson, AZ 85733
Whether your story starts in a galaxy far, far away… in a desert filled with singing saguaros… or right here in your own backyard, this is your chance to make your words live forever.
The Drive Tucson is proud to help spread the word, because every great writer, from Stephen King to Sandra Cisneros, started as a kid with a story to tell. So grab your pen, open your laptop, or just let your imagination run wild. Who knows...the next great Southern Arizona storyteller could be you.
More community events can be found HERE
