The North American Review, the oldest literary magazine in the United States, has long been a venue for fiction that tests the boundaries of the real. The Kurt Vonnegut Speculative Fiction Prize continues this tradition by seeking work that engages the speculative mode in its broadest sense—from science fiction and fantasy to magical realism, horror, and fabulism. The prize is not an exercise in pastiche; while the judges admire Vonnegut's dark humor and postmodern play, they explicitly discourage mere imitation. Instead, they seek fiction that uses speculative elements to illuminate the human condition with originality and wit. The competition is open for submissions from August 1, 2026, until November 1, 2026. A fee of $23 is required. The winning entry receives $1,000 and will be published in the North American Review's annual summer fiction issue. Additionally, all finalists will be considered for publication, offering a meaningful platform for a range of voices. The judge for this cycle is Kate Folk, a writer known for her own speculative and surreal fiction, whose sensibilities will shape the final selection. Submissions are judged anonymously, ensuring that each entry is evaluated solely on its merits. The word count ranges from 500 to 10,000 words, accommodating both short stories and longer narratives. This is an opportunity for writers to place their work in a historic magazine with a discerning readership, and to join a lineage of writers who have pushed against the conventions of realism.