Värske Rõhk opens young critics competition for 2026 works

Literary magazine Värske Rõhk has opened its 2026 young critics competition, inviting reviews of works published in Estonian this year, ERR reports.

Entries may review poetry, prose, drama, essays or album lyrics and should be 6,000 to 10,000 characters long, including spaces. Reviews are due by October 31 and should be sent to [email protected].

The prize fund is €1,000, with an annual magazine subscription and additional surprise prizes. Entrants may submit more than one review, and co-authored entries are also welcome. The winning reviews will be announced at an awards event in November and published in Värske Rõhk in 2027.

The competition aims to give writers aged 30 and under an opportunity to enter the literary field and take part in the writing, editing and publishing process. Experimentation with form is encouraged, and the jury will provide detailed feedback on every entry. The magazine has also compiled a recommended list of works published in 2026.