The Royal Institute of Philosophy is pleased to announce that the Think Essay Prize 2026 is now open for submissions.
The Think Essay Prize seeks to encourage young thinkers to explore philosophical issues in a clear, engaging, and accessible style. Essays should demonstrate intellectual curiosity, logical reasoning, and depth of thought, while remaining approachable for a general audience.
Submissions must not exceed 1,200 words and should address one of the following questions:
Essays should adopt a non-academic writing style similar to that used by Aeon Magazine and should not include footnotes or references. Authors may refer to specific thinkers or works by name within the main text if appropriate.
The winning essay will be published in Think, the Royal Institute of Philosophy’s journal that features articles by leading philosophers from around the world.
Shortlisted candidates will receive a one-year free subscription to Think, and additional prizes will be awarded to those who make the longlist. The competition provides young writers with an exceptional opportunity to contribute to public philosophical discussion and have their work recognised internationally.
Multiple submissions are permitted; however, only one essay per topic will be considered. The first essay received for a given topic will be the one reviewed.
Interested participants can register through this link.
The deadline for submission is April 20, 2026.
For general enquiries about the prize, please contact: ThinkEssay@royalinstitutephilosophy.org
