About the contest
Meet the Inkys: Inkitt’s first annual writing awards. Ten categories, one goal – recognizing the stories and storytellers that made 2026 a year for the books.
The Romantasy category is intended for love stories touched by magic, myth, and the supernatural. From enchanted kingdoms and dangerous quests to fated bonds and mythical creatures, anything is possible when romance meets the extraordinary.
What you win
🥇 1st Place
- Official 2026 Gold winner status
- A trophy made for your shelf
- $500 cash
- Inkitt VIP Badge
- Contest Winner badge for your book cover
- Social media spotlight across Inkitt winners and social media platforms
- 200,000 audiobook credits
🥈 2nd Place
- Official 2026 Silver winner status
- $250 cash
- Inkitt VIP Badge
- Contest Winner badge for your book cover
- Social media spotlight across Inkitt winners and social media platforms
- 100,000 audiobook credits
🥉 3rd Place
- Official 2026 Bronze winner status
- $100 cash
- Inkitt VIP Badge
- Contest Winner badge for your book cover
- Social media spotlight across Inkitt winners and social media platforms
- 50,000 audiobook credits
Winner Announcement / Payment / Selection
- Winners will be announced by December 18, 2026 on Inkitt’s Instagram and the Inkitt Winners Page.
- Winners will be paid the month following their selection.
- Winner selection is determined by Inkitt’s algorithm, analyzing reader behaviors when interacting with your book.
Contest Terms
Contest Dates
- Start: September 18, 2026
- End: October 18, 2026 at 11:59pm PDT
- Winners will be announced: December 18, 2026
Entry Guidelines & Terms
✅ Must have been published on Inkitt on or after January 1, 2026
✅ New stories encouraged; previously published stories published on Inkitt after January 1, 2026 are allowed.
✅ Minimum 20,000 words by the deadline. No maximum word limit.
✅ Story genre must be romantasy.
✅ Stories must be submitted in English.
✅ Stories must be original (no plagiarism).
✅ Multiple entries allowed (only one story per author can win).
❌ Paid-tier subscription stories are not eligible
❌ Poetry is not eligible
❌ Fan fiction is not eligible (see The Inkys: Fan Fiction)
❌ AI-assisted stories are not eligible (see The Inkys: AI-Assisted)
❌ Entries already signed/published on Galatea or part of a signed series are ineligible.
❌ Check the terms for your specific category for all specific terms.
Age Rating & Title Guidelines
- Titles must be suitable for all audiences.
- Mature/age-restricted content is allowed if correctly labeled.
- Explicit sex scenes are permitted in this contest when the book is correctly age-rated and aligns with the genre.
- Other mature themes — such as violence, strong language, or sensitive topics — are permitted if appropriately labeled.
Writers Write
Readers Discover
We Publish
