Print | Online | Prizes

We aim to provide as many publishing opportunities as we can for new, emerging and established writers.

Submissions open at different times of the year for poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and graphic narratives. We’re run a number of prizes, including the Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize, established in 1996, plus special projects that highlight distinctive voices and ideas. Explore the opportunities below and find the right fit for your work.

Unless otherwise stated, Island welcomes submissions from Australia, New Zealand and Australians living abroad.  

Submissions are via Submittable. Full submissions are preferred, however, if you have a particularly timely piece that warrants immediate attention, please send a pitch directly to jane@islandmag.com

For more general guidelines, process and contributor fees click here.

Nonfiction — for print

Submissions FOR ISLAND 177 AND 178 ARE open. closing 5pm AEST, Friday 12 December 2025
ISLAND 177 is scheduled to be published mid March 2026. Island 178 is scheduled to be published in late May 2026.

We want to read about what fascinates, excites or enrages you. Your entry doesn’t have to be zeitgeisty – there are so many ways to be curious - however, we are always keen on unique perspectives, unheard voices, and on work that's insightful or urgent. We encourage you to investigate, experiment, wax lyrical and really enjoy the process of working with words. Introduce us to new ideas, new worlds and new forms of expression.

We are not strict about word limits, and prefer to consider all works on their merits. However, while we do not have a formal cutoff, we are less likely to publish works longer than 4000 words.

Fiction — for print

Submissions FOR ISLAND 177 AND 178 ARE open. closing 5pm AEST, Friday 12 December 2025 
ISLAND 177 is scheduled to be published mid March 2026. Island 178 is scheduled to be published in late May 2026.  

Although we are not strict about the length of works, we tend not to publish flash fiction or microfiction in print very often. This doesn’t mean you can’t submit very short works - just be aware that this is not our staple. In terms of upper limits, we are less likely to publish works longer than 4000 words. Again, this is a general guideline, we do not have a formal cut-off.

Gwen Harwood Poetry Prize

Entries for the 2026 prize are now Closed. 
The shortlist And winners will be announced early in 2026. Keep an eye on our newsletters and socials for more deTAILS.

The prize 
The winning poet will receive $2000 + four-issue subscription to Island.
Two runners-up will each receive $500 + four-issue subscription to Island.
Winning poems will be published in issue 177, due out in March 2026. 

2025 winner and shortlistees are published in Island 173. You can also enjoy reading the winners and shortlistees from previous years here.

First awarded in 1996, the 2026 Prize celebrates 30 years of recognising distinctive voices in Australian poetry and continues to honour the spirit of Gwen Harwood.