2026 NFPW Awards

Welcome to the 2026 National Federation of Press Women Communications Contest!

Enter the Professional Contest Enter the High School Contest

CPC Contest Director: Tom Renner CTContestDirector@gmail.com

DEADLINES

Early bird deadline by Jan. 21, 2026 (Noon)

Final book deadline by Feb. 4, 2026 (Noon)

Last Chance deadline by Feb. 18, 2026 (Noon)

Affiliate judging complete by March 16, 2026

Winners must be members by March 25, 2026

National judging complete by April 22, 2026

For Conneticut submissions, the following fee structure applies per entry:

Membership Status 1st Entry Fee Each Additional Entry

Member $25.00 $15.00

Non-Member $30.00 $20.00

* A one-time, $25 late entry fee is assessed to all professional contest entrants after the NOON January 21, 2026 deadline.

For the high school competition, the following fee structure applies per entry:

Membership Status 1st Entry Fee 2nd Entry+

Student $10.00 $10.00

The deadline for high school entrants is February 18, 2026 (NOON) and the fee is $10 per entry for the entire contest period.

CONTEST FAQ

ELIGIBILITY

Anyone who lives or works in Connecticut is eligible to enter. Work must be published from January 1 through December 31, 2025.

CT CONTEST RULES

Entries will be capped at three per entrant in any given category. For example, you can enter up to three different articles in 7D - Specialty Articles - Education.

Entrants can submit up to ten entries in total across all categories;

Entrants cannot submit the same work in more than one category or subcategory;

The contest will be ALL electronic. No hard copy submissions will be accepted and no offline payments will be accepted.

Please read the rules for each category to avoid being disqualified.

MEMBERSHIP

You can join or renew your membership to the CT Press Club HERE.

**You do not have to join the NFPW to enter the local competition.

HIGH SCHOOL CONTEST

In addition to the professional competition, the CT Press Club is holding a High School Communications Contest. Entries must be produced by a current high school student or a recently graduated student who produced the work between February 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026. Learn more HERE.