Students can join the New York Times Summer Reading Contest for a chance to have their NYT submission published online and possibly in print. To enter, choose any Times article, essay, video, interactive, podcast, or photograph that caught your attention. Then visit Nytimes.com/2026/04/21/learning/our-17th-annual-summer-reading-contest and share what interested you most and why. You can answer in an essay of up to 1,500 characters or make a 90-second video.
New York Times Summer Reading Contest
How to Participate: To enter the NYT Summer Reading Contest, choose any Times article, essay, video, interactive, podcast, or photograph that interests you. Then share what interested you most in The Times that week and explain why it got your attention. You can write an essay of up to 1,500 characters or make a 90-second video. Complete the registration form using your valid personal details. Once your form is accepted, you will receive one entry into the contest.
Eligibility: Open only to individual students ages 13 to 19 attending a middle or secondary school.
Who’s Sponsor: The New York Times Company, 620 8th Avenue, New York, NY 10018.
Duration: June 5, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. ET and ends on August 14, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. ET.
| Online Entry Page |
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| Official Rules |
| Join Our Facebook Page |
Winner Drawing & Prizes:
Prizes:
Grand Prize Winner:
- Have NYT publish your Submission online and potentially in print.
Important Information:
- No Purchase Necessary: Holding a paid home print delivery subscription, owning a premium digital news account, or purchasing standalone puzzle/cooking apps will have absolutely zero impact or boosting your selection odds.
- Privacy: Your personal data is collected by The New York Times Company to manage the contest. We recommend reading the official rules to understand how your information is protected and used for future.
- Winner Selection: The winners will be publicly announced between June 23 and September 1 , 2026. The winners will be notified by e-mail address.
Good luck to everyone. Don’t forget to bookmark offerscontest.com for the latest USA sweepstakes and giveaways.