The Amazon Literary Partnership opens for 2026 grant applications

Stuart Mitchell

TheAmazon Literary Partnership (ALP) is back for its seventh year to provide grants to literary organisations that inspire and champion writers across the UK and Republic of Ireland.

In 2025, the ALP supported a record 38 literary groups across the UK and Republic of Ireland. Beneficiaries included organisations that support writers of all ages and stages, such as those dedicated to building confidence through creativity, amplifying underrepresented voices, and inspiring communities through the written word.

The Amazon Literary Partnership is now open and invites applications from all non-profit literary organisations in the UK and Republic of Ireland for grants to support and help grow their work in 2026. 

Graffiti Theatre Company was one of the first organisations in Ireland to benefit from the ALP, since its expansion to the Republic of Ireland in 2024.

This year, the Graffiti Theatre Company in Cork expanded its Creative Writing programme to offer free, fun, and engaging workshops in English and Irish to schools across Cork city and county through its partnership with Fighting Words, another organisation that has received support from the Amazon Literary Partnership. These sessions help young people explore their imagination and express themselves through writing. 

Over the past year, weekly workshops have taken place across the city at Graffiti, and in classrooms across the county, removing barriers to children accessing high quality experiences to fuel their creative voices. The funding has also enabled the launch of Write Club, Graffiti’s weekly creative space for teenagers, where young writers work on prompts, share their work, and hear from guest writers and different forms such as poetry, zine making and playwriting. 

In September 2025, the group celebrated the launch of The Write Club Book, an anthology of their work, at Graffiti’s FitzGibbon Theatre, in Cork City. The book is a joyful, thought provoking and beautiful testament to the creativity, confidence, and connection the programme inspires.

One participant said: “Write Club has always felt like just an hour and a half break from life every Tuesday, and honestly sometimes you really need that. It’s helped me make new friends and become more confident… I think I can speak for all of us when I say that Write Club has just been an amazing opportunity for writing, and this has been so amazing to be a part of.”

Ann Marie O’Sullivan, Creative Writing Coordinator at Graffiti Theatre Company said: “The grant from the Amazon Literary Partnership has been transformative for our creative writing programme here at Graffiti. It has enabled us to offer free creative writing workshops in English and Irish, that spark creativity and confidence in classrooms and from our theatre here in Blackpool. The funding has also meant we could fulfill a long-held dream to launch Write Club — our weekly space where teenagers come together to write, share, and find their voice. Seeing young people gain confidence, make connections, and even publish their first anthology, has been a joyful reminder of how powerful creative support can be. It was only possible this past year because of the Amazon Literary Partnership”

The Amazon Literary Partnership was proud to continue its support of Ministry of Stories for a sixth year, inspiring children in London through the power of words.

In 2025, the partnership supported the organisation’s Community Writing Labs. This came at a crucial time as Ministry of Stories expanded its labs to create two more groups, increasing the age range of young people they support from the age of six all the way up to the age of 18, allowing them to learn skills and make lifelong friends.

Arietta, a Young Writer from Ministry of Stories said: “Ministry of Stories has been really important for me. It’s built my confidence in sharing my work, in collaborating with other people, and in talking about my ideas. I didn’t do that at all until I started coming here. I’ve been coming to Ministry for three or four years now – Long enough that it’s got into my bones. I’m excited to be joining the new 14-18’s group.” 

A new partner for 2025 was Cheltenham Festivals, who received support from the Amazon Literary Partnership for its Write Now mentorship programme.

Aimed at supporting young people in the South West who have been permanently excluded from mainstream schools and are at risk of engaging with the criminal justice system, Cheltenham Festivals’ Write Now programme has been working to connect people and communities through words and stories, offering writing mentors to help develop young people’s confidence and voice through creative expression. Each workshop is designed to amplify underrepresented voices, help young people tell their stories, and empower them to thrive.

Sarah Cooksley, Head of Learning and Participation at Cheltenham Festivals said: “Through the support of the Amazon Literary Partnership, we’ve been able to shine a light on the stories that too often go unheard. Our recent work exploring school exclusions and their impact on young people’s wellbeing, opportunity and sense of belonging has shown just how powerful creative expression can be in rebuilding confidence and connection. This funding enables us to continue giving voice to those on the margins and to use storytelling as a force to spark curiosity and change. We’re deeply grateful to the Amazon Literary Partnership for helping us champion voices that challenge and inspire. By giving a platform to young people and communities whose experiences are rarely heard, we can continue to create the possibility of real change.”

The London Library was another new recipient of the Amazon Literary Partnership for 2025, using the grant to support its Emerging Writers Programme. 

The Emerging Writers Programme offers writers in all genres and disciplines, a year’s free membership of the historic library, whilst also offering writing development masterclasses, networking opportunities, peer support, and access to and guidance in using all the Library’s resources. 

Speaking of the impact the programme has had, one participant said: “The Emerging Writers Programme has been pivotal in expanding my professional network, deepening my craft through peer support groups and workshops, and providing confidence and structure to pursue writing.”

Supported Organisations in 2025:

In 2025, the Amazon Literary Partnership awarded funding to these grant recipients.

 

Applications for the Amazon Literary Partnership 2026 grants

How do the grants work and how can I apply?

Amazon Literary Partnership provides grants to nonprofit literary organisations on an annual basis. 

Applications for 2026 grants are being accepted between 10th November 2025 and 30th January 2026 for groups operating in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. 

Grant recipients will be notified in May 2026. Due to the volume of requests, Amazon is unable to respond personally to each inquiry, nor provide guidance on applications. Please find the online application here. 

Who is eligible?

Applicants must be a registered nonprofit organisation in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, whose core mission is to develop emerging writers, support diversity, celebrate storytelling, and/or build authors’ careers. Organisations should be structurally and financially sound; display energy, passion, and reach; have an online presence and an enthusiastic membership or readership.  

About the Amazon Literary Partnership

Building on the success of the previous six years, the Amazon Literary Partnership provides grants to non-profit literary organisations on an annual basis. Applicants must be based in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland, with a core mission to develop emerging writers, support diversity, celebrate storytelling, and/or build authors’ careers. Organisations should be structurally and financially sound; display energy, passion, and reach; have an online presence and an enthusiastic membership or readership. 

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