The entry site has closed for the 2026 cycle. It will reopen for the 2027 cycle in December 2026.

Welcome to the entry site for The Pulitzer Prizes in Journalism!

01/01/2026: The Journalism entry site reopened for the 2026 cycle on December 18, 2025. Prospective entrants should consult the Journalism Submission Guidelines, Requirements and FAQs to familiarize themselves with the latest competition changes, including the re-introduction of the Beat Reporting category and the amalgamation of the Commentary and Editorial Writing categories into the new Opinion Writing category.

New entrant accounts (which currently require manual approval from our office for security reasons) are currently available. Going forward, all entrant accounts must now be manually approved for security compliance by our office. Please allow up to 24 hours for approval during business hours, while accounts registered after 5:30 p.m. Friday generally will be approved beginning the following Monday morning for the duration of the cycle.

Each spring, Columbia University awards Pulitzer Prizes in 15 journalism categories. The winners are chosen by the Pulitzer Prize Board, which seeks to recognize journalistic excellence in eligible U.S. news organizations.

For a list with definitions of the 15 prize categories, click here.
For a more detailed explanation of the rules, the recent changes and the FAQ on submitting an entry, click here.
For technical requirements, click here.

All entries must be submitted electronically. Submissions on paper are not accepted.

Entry deadline: Jan. 26, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time

Entry fee: $75 per entry - paid by credit card only (MasterCard, Visa, American Express and Discover).

Click HERE for your guide to preparing and submitting an entry.