Course / Training•Iceland · Reykjavík

Iceland Writers Retreat Alumni Award

Funding

Fully Funded · Partial / Stipend

Program dates

Apr 14, 2027 – Apr 18, 2027

The Iceland Writers Retreat (IWR) Alumni Award is a needs-based grant that funds talented writers to attend IWR’s annual five-day retreat in Reykjavík, Iceland. Established in 2016 and sustained by donations from IWR alumni and friends, it lets writers who could not otherwise afford the retreat join small-group workshops led by internationally recognized authors, alongside panels, literary tours, and cultural events. Two tiers are offered: full funding and partial funding. Applications are reviewed by IWR alumni, and final selections are made by the founding directors.

Benefits & funding

  • Full funding: the standard retreat package (five classes and one day trip), four nights of accommodation in Reykjavík, and round-trip flights from any major international airport.
  • Partial funding: the standard retreat package only (no accommodation or flights).
  • Not covered (either tier): airport transfers, travel insurance, visas, and any meals or incidentals not in the itinerary.
  • The retreat itself: small-group writing workshops, faculty readings, panels with Icelandic writers, a bespoke literary day tour, and a literary walking tour of Reykjavík (a UNESCO City of Literature).

Eligibility

  • Open to writers of all nationalities; no residency requirement.
  • Must be age 18 or older by the start date of the retreat.
  • Open to all backgrounds and levels of writing experience; no degree or prior publication required.
  • Not eligible: family members of the judges, and anyone who has previously attended the IWR.
  • Selection weighs demonstrated writing potential and genuine financial need.

Application process

  1. 1
    Prepare a statement of impact explaining why you are applying and your financial need.
  2. 2
    Prepare a creative writing sample of no more than 1,000 words (prose: fiction, non-fiction, or memoir) and arrange two references, each supplied as a PDF.
  3. 3
    Submit the online application with the required application fee before the deadline; applications cannot be changed once submitted.

Program timeline

  1. Application deadline for the 2026 retreat cycle (11:59 PM GMT; now closed)

    Oct 15, 2025

  2. Fall 2026

    Applications for the 2027 retreat expected to open (subject to fundraising)

  3. Retreat begins (Reykjavík)

    Apr 14, 2027

  4. Retreat ends

    Apr 18, 2027