Room to Write
Room to Write is a new literary award developed by Hay Festival, in partnership with Airbnb, designed to support UK-based writers at a critical stage in the creation of new books.
The award recognises that time, space, and a change of environment are essential to fuel creativity and are often inaccessible to writers due to financial or personal constraints.
The 8 selected writers will be awarded an Airbnb coupon worth £1,500, enabling them to stay in a UK location of their choosing that best supports focused, uninterrupted writing. Whether that’s a quiet rural retreat, a coastal escape, or a city with literary resonance, the chosen space becomes the writer’s “room” – both literal and imaginative.
Rooted in Hay Festival’s commitment to nurturing contemporary writing and Airbnb’s mission to enable meaningful travel and connection, Room to Write champions creativity, and the importance of place in storytelling.
Room to Write seeks to enable UK-based writers to make significant progress on a new book (at any stage beyond initial idea) by removing barriers related to time, place and cost.
Applications for 2026 are now closed
FAQs
What do you mean by significant progress? Do I have to complete the work?
Significant progress is deliberately flexible, you’re not expected to finish a book
What it means in practice is:
- making a meaningful step forward on a book-length project that’s already underway
- using the time and space to focus in a way that’s hard to manage otherwise
That could look like:
- drafting a substantial section
- revising or restructuring an existing draft
- developing the voice, form, or direction of a book
- moving the project from an early stage into something more solid
Completion isn’t required – the emphasis is on momentum, focus, and development, not a finished manuscript. When applying, it’s enough to explain what stage your project is at now and what you realistically hope to move forward during the Airbnb stay
What publication examples do you accept?
Applicants must provide evidence of publication in print. Accepted genres are fiction, non-fiction and poetry and may include independently published titles. Please note that this award is not intended for stage or screen scriptwriters or graphic novelists.
When will I know if my application has been successful?
We will contact the successful applicants on or before 15 June 2026
If I am unsuccessful, will I receive feedback?
Unfortunately, due to the anticipated high volume of applications we will not be able to provide individual feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
Where can I use the Airbnb coupon?
The coupon will be placed on your Airbnb account for you to use towards an Airbnb listing of your choice across the UK.
For queries about the application process
Terms and Conditions
- Open to UK residents over 18 years of age
- Each writer may submit only one entry.
- Entries must be received via the online form before 12pm (BST) 31 May 2026
- All proposals must be an original work of the applicant and must not infringe the rights, including intellectual property rights, of any other party. Hay Festival and Airbnb accepts no liability for the submissions of entrants. Applicants agree to fully indemnify Hay Festival and Airbnb against any claims by any third party arising from a breach of these rules.
- Selection of the winning writers remains the decision of the panel. The outcome of the decision is final. There will be no recourse to appeal if entries have not been successful.
- The winners will be required to create an Airbnb account to accept the award.
- The winners will need to cover the cost of their travel to their selected Airbnb listing and all living expenses whilst at the Airbnb listing.
- Each winner will receive an Airbnb coupon worth £1,500 to be used within 12 months of the winners announcement
- The Airbnb coupon can only be used on UK properties
- The Airbnb coupon is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash
- Full terms and conditions of Airbnb – including the application of Airbnb coupon – will apply to the award.
- The winners agree to take part in publicity which may be requested by Airbnb, including photography and filming during their Airbnb stay (at no cost to the winner) and grant Airbnb and Hay Festival the right to use the resulting content (including name and likeness) for promotional purposes.
- Hay Festival and Airbnb reserve the right to cancel or alter the scheme at any stage if deemed necessary, and if circumstances arise outside its control. In this event, a notice will be posted on www.hayfestival.org/room-to-write
- Hay Festival, as data controller, is responsible for handling personal data provided to Hay Festival, in accordance with data protection law. Hay Festival has a legitimate interest in using the personal data for journalistic, artistic and literary purposes and in the public interest and in using the personal data for the performance of the contract with Hay Festival and Airbnb. For more information visit https://www.hayfestival.org/legal
- Hay Festival reserves the right to disqualify any entrant which breaches, or is suspected of breaching, any of these terms and conditions or whose entry or conduct may bring Hay Festival or Airbnb into disrepute.
- Employees, trustees, board members and immediate family members of Hay Festival Foundation and Airbnb are not eligible to apply for this award.
- By entering this Competition, you warrant and represent that:
- you are at least 18 years of age
- you have full legal capacity and authority to enter into and be bound by these Terms and Conditions;
- you are not subject to any legal or regulatory restriction which would prevent you from participating in the Competition or accepting a Prize; and
- all information you provide in connection with your entry is true, accurate and complete.
