The Anne Brown Prize awards £1500 for the best literary essay by a writer in or from Scotland

The Anne Brown Essay Prize 2026 launches 16 February 2026. Submissions close 15 June 2026.

Inviting fresh, insightful short-form writing.

Constant and dedicated champion of the Book Festival since its inception, the Essay Prize was established in honour of Anne Brown’s contribution within Wigtown as well as her astonishing career in radio and broadcasting and her cultivation of new talent in journalism.

About the Prize

The essay prize welcomes all entrants aged over 16 and resident in Scotland, born in Scotland or with a longstanding association with Scotland.

The word limit is 4000.

Essays may be on any subject.

There is no entry fee.

2026 Judges

We are delighted to announce the 2026 Anne Brown Essay Prize judges as:

Gerry Cambridge

Poet, essayist and critic Gerry Cambridge’s six books of poetry include The Light Acknowledgers (2019). He has edited The Dark Horse, Scotland’s leading poetry journal, since 1995. An Honorary Fellow of the Association for Scottish Literature, he received a Cholmondeley Award for poetry from the Society of Authors in 2024. His most recent book, a memoir, The Ayrshire Nestling, was shortlisted for the Saltire Non-fiction Book of the Year in 2025. His Selected Poems will be published by Red Squirrel Press in autumn 2026.

Zara Janjua

Zara Janjua is a journalist, presenter and writer, and a columnist for the Scottish Sun on Sunday. She has written for The Guardian and reported for The New York Times. She presents BBC's Author's Live and was a writer on CBBC show Gifted. As an actress, she has appeared in Karen Pirie and Half Man, bringing sharp storytelling across every platform she works in.

Isla Rosser-Owen

After a career in publishing with a focus on the Middle East, Isla moved into the world of book festivals after volunteering for Islay Book Festival, before taking over as chair and festival director. Isla first joined Wigtown Festival Company back in 2018 as cultural producer, moving on to Bradford Literature Festival to lead the programming team there. Isla returned to Wigtown Festival Company as CEO in August 2025.