The 2026 Dutt Memorial Award For Literary Excellence

“I want you to act as if our house is on fire. Because it is.”  — Greta Thunberg

“There is no Planet B.” — Rob Newman

2026 Dutt Award Theme

How do human lives unfold in a time of profound ecological change and climate breakdown? We seek writing that explores how environmental crisis shapes place, memory, and our very existence. We encourage Malaysian writers to surprise us and break our hearts.

But above all, make us think.

Submission Dates:

The contest will be open for submissions from: September 1 – October 31, 2026

Email submissions to: duttliteraryaward@gmail.com

Please submit your best, PREVIOUSLY UNPUBLISHED edited work; we are looking forward to reading the new submissions!

2026 DUTT MEMORIAL AWARD

Rules

  • Submit one previously unpublished prose work of 1,000–3,000 words.
  • Only one submission per person is permitted.
  • Fiction and creative non-fiction are accepted, including short stories, brief memoirs, and essays.
  • Submissions must be written in English.
  • Every submission must reflect the 2026 theme, EARTH OF MANKIND, however the writer chooses to interpret it.
  • Include a cover page stating the title of the work and its word count.
  • Format the document in Times New Roman, 12-point font, with margins of at least one inch on every side.
  • Number all pages.
  • Published and emerging writers are welcome. Previous writing credits are not required.
  • The use of generative AI tools to write any part of the submission is strictly prohibited.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older.
  • Be a Malaysian citizen, Malaysian permanent resident, or currently residing in Malaysia.
  • If residing in Malaysia without citizenship or permanent-resident status, have lived in Malaysia for at least one full calendar year.

Finalists may be required to provide a government-issued identity document confirming their eligibility.

Awards and Publication

Three cash awards will be presented:

  • First prize: RM1,500
  • Two honourable mentions: RM750 each

Winning works will be featured in an anthology published by Sunway University Press in 2027.

Copyright will remain with the authors.