The National Playwrights Conference, hosted by the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, is a cornerstone of new play development in the American theater. For decades, it has provided a sanctuary for playwrights to refine their work away from commercial pressures, with a focus on process rather than product. The conference offers selected playwrights the opportunity to collaborate with professional directors, dramaturgs, and actors in a workshop setting, culminating in staged readings for an invited audience. The O'Neill's curatorial vision is rooted in fostering bold, original voices that push the boundaries of the form. The conference seeks scripts that demonstrate a distinctive theatricality, emotional depth, and a readiness for development. While there is no prescribed aesthetic, the selection committee values work that is ambitious in scope and execution, and that engages with the complexities of the human condition. Playwrights accepted to the conference receive a stipend, travel expenses, and housing, along with the invaluable experience of seeing their work brought to life by seasoned professionals. The conference is not a competition but a collaborative laboratory, where the playwright's vision is paramount. The submission fee is $15, and the deadline for the 2027 cycle is September 11, 2026.