M.F.K. FISHER FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2026 EMERGING WRITERS CONTEST

RECORD-BREAKING COMPETITION DRAWS 200 ENTRIES FROM 22 COUNTRIES AND 24 U.S. STATES

[July 6, 2026] — The M.F.K. Fisher Foundation is honored to announce the winners of the 2026 M.F.K. Fisher Emerging Writers Contest, celebrating exceptional new voices whose essays explored this year's theme of "Fire."

Now in its seventh year, the international competition attracted a record 200 submissions from writers representing 22 countries and 24 U.S. states, making it the largest and most diverse contest in its history. Writers competed in three age divisions—Children (ages 8–12), Youth (ages 13–17), and Adults (18 and over)—submitting original essays or short stories inspired by the many meanings of fire, from the warmth of the kitchen stove and the glow of candlelight to passion, destruction, renewal, and transformation.

The Foundation is especially proud to recognize Elle Prince of California, winner of the Youth division, as the recipient of this year's Grand Prize.

2026 Winners

Children (Ages 8–12)
First Place: Aadhyaa Aravind Shankar (India)
Second Place: Alma Steil (Massachusetts)
Third Place: Erin Lee (Pennsylvania)

Youth (Ages 13–17)
First Place & Grand Prize: Elle Prince (California)
Second Place: Vienna Canno (Pennsylvania)
Third Place: Chloe Lee (Singapore)

Adults (18 and over)
First Place: Manju Gupta (India)
Second Place: Nisha Kumari Gupta (India)
Third Place: Sumit Kumar (India)

This year's winning essays are available to read on the Foundation's website at mfkfisher.org.

“My mother felt passionately about support emerging writers,” says Kennedy Friede Golden, Fisher’s daughter and the President of the M.F.K. Fisher Foundation. “It meant a great deal to me to be able to personally reach out to every one of this year’s 200 entrants. We received submissions from as far away as Denmark, Bangladesh, Qatar, Mozambique, and Estonia, and our three winning adult entries came from a single family in the Bhojpur District of Bihur, India. Our grand prize winner is already an accomplished young writer who was preparing to travel to a monthlong writers workshop when I called to notify her of her award.”

The M.F.K. Fisher Emerging Writers Contest was established in 2020 to encourage thoughtful, original writing inspired by the literary legacy of one of America's most influential food writers. Stewardship of the competition was recently assumed by the M.F.K. Fisher Foundation after its creation by All Hands Ecology (formerly Audubon Canyon Ranch), home to Fisher's beloved "Last House" on the Bouverie Preserve in Glen Ellen, California.

The Foundation extends its sincere appreciation to the distinguished panel of judges who generously donated their time and expertise: Chair: Clark Wolf, consultant and NPR host; Susan Ryan, Director of Operations of Russian Riverkeeper and bookseller; Ruth Reichl, author, editor, and chef; Gurdeep Loyal, author, food and travel writer, and trend consultant; Luke Barr, author and grandnephew of M.F.K. Fisher; Tom Gardali, conservation scientist and CEO All Hands Ecology; Kennedy Golden, President, M.F.K. Fisher Foundation, Trustee of the M.F.K. Fisher Literary Trust, and daughter of M.F.K. Fisher; Alex Wright, Vice President, M.F.K. Fisher Foundation, Successor Trustee of the M.F.K. Fisher Literary Trust, and grandson of M.F.K. Fisher; Florence Fabricant, author and reporter, New York Times; Carol Clurman, writer, editor, and journalist; and Tim Zahner, Executive Director, Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau.

The Foundation also gratefully acknowledges the generosity of an anonymous donor whose support allowed entry fees to be waived for all children and youth participants, helping make the competition accessible to young writers from around the world.