Seven Hills and Penumbra Contest Deadlines and Early-Bird Dates

Updated

The 2026 Seven Hills Literary Contest and Penumbra Poetry & Haiku Contest are open for entries from June 1 through October 15, 2026. Early-bird entries with reduced entry fees are accepted through July 31, 2026. If you want the lower fee, submit before that July date; if you only need to make the contest, the hard deadline is October 15, 2026.

Key Dates at a Glance

Milestone Date What It Means
Contest opens June 1, 2026, 8:00 am Entries begin being accepted
Early-bird deadline July 31, 2026 Last day for reduced entry fees
Final deadline October 15, 2026, 11:30 pm Last day to enter at the regular fee

Both contests share this window, so the same two dates apply whether you are entering the Seven Hills Literary Contest or the Penumbra Poetry & Haiku Contest.

Early-Bird vs. Regular Entry

The only difference the site states between the two periods is cost: early-bird entries carry reduced entry fees. The page does not list the actual fee amounts, so check the contest page for current pricing before you pay.

  • Early bird (through July 31, 2026): reduced entry fee.
  • Regular (August 1 – October 15, 2026): standard entry fee, same final deadline.

If fee savings matter to you, treat July 31 as your real deadline rather than October 15.

Categories and Eligibility

The excerpt references "this year's categories" but does not enumerate them, and it does not state who may enter. For category lists, eligibility rules, and submission requirements, go directly to the contest section of twaonline.org rather than relying on secondhand summaries.

How to Confirm Dates and Changes

Dates and fees can shift, so verify before submitting:

  1. Open twaonline.org and go to the Events section.
  2. Find the Seven Hills Literary Contest and Penumbra Poetry & Haiku Contest listing.
  3. Confirm the open date, early-bird cutoff, final deadline, and current fees.
  4. If anything is unclear, use the association's contact channel listed on the site.

Common Pitfalls

  • Assuming the early-bird price lasts until October. It does not; the reduced fee ends July 31, 2026.
  • Cutting it close on the final day. The deadline is 11:30 pm on October 15, 2026, leaving little room for submission errors.
  • Guessing at categories or fees. The site excerpt does not specify them, so confirm on the official contest page.