Annual Pittsburgh New Works Festival submissions are now open!

The Pittsburgh New Works Festival (PNWF) is now accepting one-act plays that have never before been produced. Up to sixteen one-act plays will be selected to be performed for the festival’s 36th season, which begins in August of this year.

Playwrights whose plays are selected for production in the festival will be offered a small honorarium.

The playwright who receives the most votes for Outstanding Contribution by a Playwright will receive $500, to be awarded at the Wrap Party in October. 

Playwrights who adhere to all guidelines will receive brief comments.  For more information, please contact us at info@pittsburghnewworks.org or call 412-944-2NEW (2639)

Guidelines

 Playwrights must comply with all guidelines or their play will not be considered.

 To be considered for inclusion in the festival, playwrights must submit ON OR BEFORE April 5, 2026.

 All submissions must be made through the online submission form. There is a $15 administrative fee. This will be collected at the time of submission, payable online (all major credit cards accepted).

 All scripts must be uploaded in PDF format.

 Please be sure that your name does not appear anywhere on the submitted script. The judging is done anonymously.

 Plays previously submitted to the Festival may be resubmitted; plays reworked based on commentary received in previous years are particularly encouraged.

 Additional criteria for play submission include:

 No less than 20 minutes long

 No more than 45 minutes long

 Limited number of scenes and simple scene changes

 No more than eight characters

 No musicals

 Simple sets, costumes, and props

 Plays may have been “read,” but never produced (workshops and readings are acceptable)

 Playwrights are limited to one submission each year