When will Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday) take place?
Friday Night Live will take place on Saturday 13th June during the gala dinner, with readings starting at 7.30pm and voting taking place at around 9pm after dessert has been served. Yes, it’s on a Saturday – but it’s still the Friday Night Live we all know and love. Humour us!
Am I eligible to enter Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday)?
All-Access Saturday or All-Access Weekend ticketholders are welcome to enter Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday). You can enter even if you’ve previously entered Friday Night Live or any other competition we’ve run, even if you were shortlisted or a finalist. You can enter with one 500-word submission in any genre.
We encourage everyone to apply for Friday Night Live, no matter your background or where you are in the world. However, if you currently have an agent or are traditionally published by an active publisher, we ask that you leave this opportunity for those who could most benefit from it.
How do I enter Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday)?
If eligible, you can first sign in to the
festival website. Then, visit the
Festival To-Do List. Scroll down to 'Submit your entry to our Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday) competition' and select the link below.
You will then find an information page. Once you have read through the information, select 'Enter Now'. This link will open a submission form, where you will need to complete all required fields before selecting 'Submit'.
What do I need to upload for Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday)?
You will need to upload the first 500 words of your manuscript by the deadline of 1pm (BST) on May 18th 2026. The first 500 words should include any prologues or introductions.
Please do not include your name or any other identifying information in the upload as entries are anonymised during the judging process. Please also read over your entry carefully before entering the competition, as we will not accept resubmissions if you later notice any typos or mistakes.
Yes, you can certainly enter with the opening 500 words of an incomplete novel. In the past, we have had writers on the shortlist who had only written a couple of pages of their WIP. However, bear in mind that if you win the competition, you will only have one year to redeem your prize, which includes a manuscript assessment and a One-to-One session with a literary agent. So you'll want to have a completed draft within the first year.
Can I submit more / less than 500 words?
We ask that you stick to the 500-word limit as closely as possible and submit a sample that is 500 words to the nearest sentence end (rounded up or down).
Can I enter more than once?
No, please submit one entry only for Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday). Multiple entries by the same attendee will not be reviewed and may result in your disqualification. For this reason, please read over your entry carefully before entering the competition, as you will be unable to resubmit if you later notice any typos or mistakes.
How does the judging work? How many people will make the shortlist?
All entries will be judged by two readers and given a mark out of 10 based on the style, effectiveness of the prose, and the desire to read more. The longlist will be made from the entries with the highest overall mark across both readers.
Six entries will then be selected as finalists, to be read aloud on stage at the live final during the London Festival of Writing. A panel of agents will comment on each finalist entry – but the winner will be decided by the audience via a digital vote.
Will I receive feedback on my Friday Night Live (but on a Saturday) entry?
The only feedback provided will be given by the panel of agents at the live final. Prior to this, all judging will be performed within our team and no feedback will be shared with entrants.