Outreach News

Participate in INSPIRACIÈNCIA 2026, the contest that brings together literature, science and art

The CSIC is holding the successful literary creation competition Inspiraciència for the fourteenth consecutive year. Among this year’s new features is the introduction of a dance category. The call for submissions is open until 10 March 2026. Don't hesitate to participate or to share the contest!

XIV Inspiraciencia contest

One of the CSIC’s most well-established initiatives to promote creativity around science, literature and art is the science-inspired literary competition Inspiraciència. Over the years the competition has been running, more than 6,000 texts have been submitted. Inspiraciència is coordinated by the CSIC Delegation in Catalonia, with the support of the CSIC’s Vice-Presidency for Scientific Culture and Citizen Science. It also benefits from the collaboration of various CSIC delegations and institutes.

Participation and categories

Until 10 March 2026, short stories of up to 800 words may be submitted in Catalan, Spanish, Galician and Basque, and in two categories: adult (18 years and over) and youth (12 to 17 years). Authors in each category may compete for both the Institutional Prize and the Audience Award, with cash prizes and cultural vouchers of up to €500. In addition, there is the Science and Humanities Prize, aimed at teachers who encourage student participation.

The full rules and the entry form are available on the competition’s official website: inspiraciencia.es. Works may be submitted until 10 March 2026 at 11:59 p.m. (peninsular time).

This year also sees the introduction of a Special Dance Prize, with the aim of establishing a new line of dialogue between science and the performing arts. Videos, with a maximum length of 10 minutes, must be submitted together with a text detailing the research process carried out.

“Inspiraciència has established itself as a space that fosters citizen participation and scientific outreach through literature, and that is why this edition is also embracing dance,” highlights Luis Calvo, Institutional Delegate of the CSIC in Catalonia. “The competition thus reinforces the CSIC’s commitment to scientific culture and to exploring new ways of bringing science and research closer to society,” he adds.

Partners

The Inspiraciència competition is made possible thanks to the collaboration of CSIC delegations and institutes in Catalonia, Andalusia, Asturias, the Balearic Islands, the Canary Islands, the Basque Country, Extremadura, Galicia, Madrid, Valencia, Navarre, Aragon, Castile and León, Cantabria, La Rioja, Castile–La Mancha and Murcia. Its development is also supported by a moderation team made up of around twenty people linked to the CSIC, as well as a jury, in addition to the technical and organising team.

The following cultural and scientific organisations collaborate with the competition through dissemination and prizes: Escola d’Escriptura de l’Ateneu Barcelonès, Escola d’Escriptors, Associació d’Escriptores i Escriptors en Lingua Galega, Editorial Galaxia, Elhuyar, Mètode. Revista de Difusió de la Investigació of the University of Valencia, Efervesciencia (Radio Galega), Produccions Impossibles and Casa de l’Artista en Terres de Cruïlla.

More information:

Webpage.

Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Press release from CSIC.

Previous editions:

Open call of the 13^th edition of INSPIRACIENCIA 2023 (ICMAB, 2023)

Open call of the 12^th edition of INSPIRACIENCIA 2022 (ICMAB, 2022)

The XI edition of the CSIC Inspiraciencia short stories contest is now open! (ICMAB, 2021)

Anna Drou

08 January 2026