Tennessee Williams Museum invites Cat on a Hot Tin Roof submissions

The Tennessee Williams Museum in Key West invited poets and prose writers to submit original work for its 2026 Poetry and Short Story Contests as part of festivities marking the playwright’s 115th birthday. The museum announced the contest on January 12, 2026, and set rules that connect entries to Tennessee Williams’s Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.

All submissions must reference Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in some manner; organizers encouraged broad interpretation of the theme to allow contemporary and local perspectives. Entry is open to U.S. residents only. Poetry entries may be up to 30 lines, and short stories must run between 1,500 and 4,000 words. Each entrant may submit one poem and one short story; the entry fee is $20 per submission.

Prizes are modest but tangible: first-place winners in each category receive $500 and second-place winners receive $250. Winners will be announced March 26, 2026 during a Tennessee Williams Birthday Celebration at the Tennessee Williams Museum and will be published online on the Tennessee Williams Key West Festival website.

For Monroe County, the contest represents an opportunity for local writers and cultural venues to engage residents and visitors during a signature festival weekend. The Tennessee Williams Key West Festival draws regional attention to the island’s literary heritage and provides an occasion for local youth, community groups, and arts organizations to showcase work and build audiences. The entry rules—particularly the U.S. residency requirement—could limit participation by international seasonal residents and noncitizen members of the Keys community, a factor local organizers and community leaders may weigh in future years as they seek broader civic inclusion.

Administrative details and submission materials are available at twfest.org/contests or kwahs.org/tennessee-williams-festival. For direct inquiries, the Key West Art & Historical Society can be reached at 305-295-6616 or via kwahs.org.

The contest timetable gives writers just over six weeks to prepare and submit work, with a deadline of 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on March 1, 2026. The festival announcement and online publication on March 26 will coincide with the museum celebration, creating a public platform for winners and a draw for attendees.

The takeaway? If you have a piece inspired by Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, polish it now, obey the length limits, budget $20 per entry, and submit by March 1. This is a local chance to gain recognition, a small cash award, and a spot in the Key West literary calendar.