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Poetry Competitions
Current and forthcoming competitions — updated 27 October 2026
How to Enter Them -* Beware of scams.
Please Note
The information given here is for guidance only. While every effort is made to ensure that it is accurate, competition details, fees and closing dates can change. Before entering any competition, please check the full rules and current information provided by the organisers. Poetry Kit cannot accept responsibility for the accuracy of information supplied by competition organisers.
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OCTOBER 2026
26 October 2026
iOTA Shot Pamphlet Awards 2026 — Templar Poetry
Entry: £20
For poetry pamphlet manuscripts of 16–25 pages. Winning pamphlets are expected to be published during 2027/28; shortlisted poets may also be selected for publication in iOTA magazine.
26 October 2026
Poems about the Moon — Candlestick Press
Poetry competition associated with Candlestick Press pamphlet purchases. One pamphlet (£6.95 plus postage) allows two poems; two pamphlets allow five. Check the organiser’s full rules.
30 October 2026
Wisconsin Prize for Poetry in Translation
USA — A poetry collection in translation. Prize: US$1,500 and publication by University of Wisconsin Press; entry fee US$28. Check translator eligibility and manuscript rules.
30 October 2026
The Happiful Poetry Prize 2027
First prize: £100; four runners-up receive £25 book tokens
Entry: Free
For UK-based entrants. Submit an original poem of up to 25 lines exploring mental health and wellbeing. Winner and shortlisted poets will be published in Happiful.
31 October 2026
Vassar Miller Prize
USA — Prize: US$1,000 and publication by University of North Texas Press for a poetry collection; entry fee US$25.
31 October 2026
The National Poetry Competition 2026
First prize: £5,000; second £3,000; third £2,000; commended prizes £500
Entry: £9 first poem; £6 subsequent poems
Run by The Poetry Society. Open worldwide to poets aged 18 and over for an unpublished poem of up to 40 lines. Judges: Niall Campbell, Malika Booker and Luke Kennard.
31 October 2026
The Bedford Competition
First prize: £2,000; second £400; third £300
Entry: £8.50
International short story and poetry competition, open to entrants over 17. Shortlisted and winning entries are published in the competition anthology. Poetry judge: Fran Lock.
31 October 2026
Anthology Poetry Competition 2026
First prize: €1,000; second €250; third €150
Entry: €18 standard fee
Open internationally for previously unpublished poems in English of no more than 40 lines, with no restriction on theme or style.
31 October 2026
Wildfire/Frosted Fire Seventh International Single Poem Competition
First prizes: £300 audio category and £300 text category; four £25 runners-up
Entry: £5 per poem or £20 for five
Open worldwide for poems of up to 50 lines on the theme Free Speech or Fake News.
31 October 2026
Edward Thomas Fellowship Poetry Competition 2027
First prize: £250; two further prizes of £100
Entry: £5 per poem
Unpublished poems on any subject, maximum 40 lines. Judge: Daljit Nagra. Winning poets are invited to read at the Fellowship AGM at Steep, Hampshire.
Recurring competition: VERVE Poem of the Month normally opens on the 1st and closes on the 20th of each month. See VERVE competition details for the current round.
NOVEMBER 2026
1 November 2026
The Malahat Review Open Season Awards
Canada — Poetry award of C$2,000 and publication; entry fee approximately C$30. Check eligibility and the official contest guidelines.
1 November 2026
James Hearst Poetry Prize
USA — Prize: US$1,000 and publication in North American Review. Entry fee US$23; submit up to five poems.
1 November 2026
Evaristo Prize for African Poetry
Africa / International — Prize: US$1,500; entry free. For African poets without a published full-length collection. Submit exactly ten poems, each no longer than 40 lines.
4 November 2026
The Poetry Business Pamphlet Competition
Prize: Two winners receive £500 each and publication by Smith|Doorstop Books
Entry: £25; £22 discounted rate for eligible members/subscribers
Submit a 20-page poetry collection. Open internationally to writers aged 18 and over. Judge: Andrew McMillan. Entry-fee waivers are available by application.
4 November 2026
The Poetry Business 40th Anniversary Collection Competition
Prize: £500 and publication of the winning collection by Smith|Doorstop Books
Entry: £38; £35 discounted rate for eligible members/subscribers
Submit 40–60 pages of poetry. Open internationally. Judge: Imtiaz Dharker. Two runners-up receive £100 honoraria and publication in The North.
15 November 2026
Nightboat Books Poetry Prize
USA / International — Prize: US$1,200 advance, book publication, royalties and 25 copies. Open to poets writing in English internationally; unpublished book manuscript required. Closes 11:59 p.m. Eastern time.
15 November 2026
Café Writers Poetry Competition 2026
First prize: £1,000; second £300; third £200; three £30 commendations; Norfolk Prize £50
Entry: £5 per poem; £13 for three; £4 each thereafter
Open poetry competition judged by Jane Commane, who reads every entry without preliminary sifting. UK residents with a total household income below £16,000 may enter up to two poems free. The Norfolk Prize is for a permanent Norfolk resident not winning another prize.
23 November 2026
Straid Collection Award 2026
Entry: £25
Full-length poetry collection award from Templar Poetry, with publication and author support for selected collections. See the organiser’s submission requirements.
30 November 2026
Gregory O'Donoghue International Poetry Competition
First prize: €2,000; second €500; third €250; ten runners-up €50
Entry: €7 per poem or €30 for five
International competition for poems up to 40 lines. The winner receives a featured reading at Cork International Poetry Festival; winners and runners-up are published in Southword.
30 November 2026
National Poetry Library — Word Exchange Poetry Competition
Prize: Opportunity to perform at the 2027 London Literature Festival
Entry: Free
For UK residents aged 16 and over. The competition celebrates local words, phrases, languages and dialects.
30 November 2026
Wildfire Words 2026 Audio Book International Competition
Entry: £9 per collection until 31 October; £12 from 1 November
An international poetry-collection competition listed by the National Poetry Library. Check the organiser's current rules and prize information before submitting.
DECEMBER 2026
1 December 2026
After the End Research Project Poetry Competition
Free entry. Check the organiser’s complete eligibility, theme and submission instructions.
4 December 2026
Overland Judith Wright Poetry Prize
Australia / New Zealand — For emerging poets in Australia and New Zealand with no more than one commercially published solo collection. Prizes: A$6,000, A$2,000 and A$1,000; poems up to 80 lines.
7 December 2026
Mslexia Women's Poetry Competition 2026
First prize: £2,000; second £500; third £250; Unpublished Poet Prize £250
Entry: £12 for three poems
The four prize winners and 16 additional finalists will be published in Mslexia. Judge: Rachel Long. Check Mslexia's eligibility rules before entering.
7 December 2026
Mslexia Women's Pamphlet Competition 2026
First prize: £500 plus publication of the winning pamphlet by Bloodaxe Books
Entry: £20
Judge: Maura Dooley. A selected poem from the winning pamphlet will also be published in Mslexia. Check Mslexia's eligibility and manuscript rules before entering.
9 December 2026
Culture Without Border International Poetry Competition
International — Theme: Mapping the Heart. International poetry competition open to all ages; check the official rules for language and submission requirements.
31 December 2026
Society of Classical Poets International Poetry Competition
USA / International — Open worldwide for metrical poetry. Closing time 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time; check the official site for categories, prizes and entry requirements.
31 December 2026
The Moth Poetry Prize 2026
Prizes: €6,000 first prize; three €1,000 runners-up; eight €250 commendations. Entry: €17 per poem. Open internationally to poets over 16 for original unpublished poems; no line limit. Judge: Diane Seuss.
31 December 2026
Wolverhampton Literature Festival Poetry Competition 2027
Prizes: First £400; second £150; three third prizes of £25; additional £50 prize for the best entry from a WV postcode.
Entry: £4 for one poem or £10 for three.
Opens 1 November 2026. Open worldwide for poems on any subject. Main judge: Emma Purshouse; WV postcode prize judge: Jane Seabourne. Results announced ahead of the Wolverhampton Literature Festival, 5–7 February 2027.
31 December 2026
Charles Causley International Poetry Competition 2026
Prizes: £1,000 and week-long Cyprus Well residency; £200 second; £100 third. Entry: £8 first poem, £5 additional poems. Theme: Heritage. Judge: Rowan Williams. Original unpublished poems up to 40 lines.
31 December 2026
Charles Causley Young Person’s Poetry Competition
Free entry for young poets. Consult the organiser for age limits, theme and submission requirements.
25 December 2026
The Ontario Poetry Society — Long Poem Competition
Canada / International — Open to everyone. Submit a poem of 60–100 lines. Check the organiser’s rules for entry fees and awards.
31 December 2026
Irish Haiku Society Competition
Ireland / International — Haiku competition with cash prizes totalling €300 and seven highly commended awards. Entry €3 per haiku or €20 for seven.
JANUARY 2027
3 January 2027
The Poetry Kit International Poetry Competition
Prizes: First £220; second £60
Entry: £3.50 for one poem; £8 for three; £10 for five; £15 for eight
Open worldwide for original, unpublished poems in English, on any subject, with no restriction on length or style. Judge: James Bain. Entries by email; see the competition page for rules and payment.
3 January 2027
Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival Poetry Competition 2027
Prizes: £300 (18+), £100 (12–17), £50 (11 and under)
Entry: £4 per poem for adults; free for under-18s
Theme: Water is Life. Poems must be no more than 30 lines. Judge: Wendy Pratt. All shortlisted poems will be printed in a pamphlet. Entries open online from 1 October 2026.
4 January 2027
DISQUIET Prize 2027 — Poetry
Entry: US$15. Open internationally to writers aged 18+ with no more than one full-length book. Up to six unpublished poems, maximum 18 pages. Poetry winner published in The Common; prizes include a Lisbon writing programme tuition waiver or US$1,000 alternative.
8 January 2027
XIV Jovellanos International Poetry Prize — Spain
International — €2,000 for one original, unpublished poem, any language, theme or length. One poem per author. Finalists may be published in a collection; consult the publication rights terms.
14 January 2027
Colorado Prize for Poetry
USA / International — Prize: US$2,500 and publication for a book-length poetry collection. Entry fee US$25 by post or US$28 online; limited fee waivers available.
15 January 2027
Guernsey International Poetry Competition 2027
Open Poetry prize: up to £1,000
Entry: £5 per poem or three for £12; young people's category free
Original poems in English of no more than 14 lines. Open, Channel Islands and Young People's categories. Judge: Clare Pollard.
15 January 2027
Arts Richmond Poetry Prize 2027
Prizes: £250, £150 and £75; local prize £150
Entry: £6 per poem or £14 for three
Theme: An Open Window. Original unpublished poems, maximum 40 lines. Entrants must be 16 or over. Roger McGough selects the winners from the final 40 poems.
31 January 2027
Discover New Art Prize for Poetry
International — Prize: US$25,000 for a poetry manuscript-in-progress; five poetry finalists receive US$1,000. Submit fifteen pages; entry fee US$30 until 30 November, then US$35. Eligibility restrictions apply.
31 January 2027
Magma Poetry Competition 2026/27
Prizes in each category: £1,000 first; £500 second; £250 third
Entry: £8 first poem; £6 each subsequent poem; reduced subscriber rates
Two categories: the Judge's Prize for poems of 11–50 lines, judged by Fiona Benson, and the Editors' Prize for poems of up to 10 lines.
31 January 2027
Kent & Sussex Poetry Society Open Poetry Competition 2027
Prizes: £1,000 first, £300 second, £100 third and four £50 awards. Entry: £5 per poem, or £4 each for three or more. Open worldwide, age 16+, unpublished English poems up to 40 lines. Judge: Jane Draycott.
31 January 2027
Snapshot Press Haiku Calendar Contest
International haiku contest — Twelve winning haiku share a £400 / US$600 prize, with 40 runners-up; selected poems published. Seasonal reference required. Entry £10 for up to four haiku.
31 January 2027
British Haiku Society Awards
Haiku, tanka and haibun categories, with cash prizes and publication in Blithe Spirit. Entry fees start at £5.50 for three works; check category rules.
FEBRUARY 2027
1 February 2027
Keats-Shelley Poetry Prize
UK / International — Open worldwide to poets aged 18 or over. Entry £10 per poem. Deadline 10 a.m. GMT; see the organiser’s rules for this year’s theme and prizes.
10 February 2027
Himalayan Literature Festival International Poetry Book Award
Nepal / International — Open worldwide to writers aged 18+ submitting an unpublished English-language poetry manuscript of 48–100 pages. Prize US$500, publication by Nirala Publications, 50 copies and festival registration. Entry US$28.
18 February 2027
Tower Poetry Competition
UK — Free poetry competition for UK-based students aged 16–18 in secondary education. Theme: The Deep.
24 February 2027
Hive Young Writers' Competition 2026/27
Entry: Free
A free young-writers competition listed by the National Poetry Library. Check the current organiser information for age categories, poetry requirements and prizes.
26 February 2027
Never Such Innocence — Young People’s Competition
Free competition for young people. Check the current categories, eligibility and entry guidelines.
15 February 2027
Farnham Poetry Competition 2027
UK — Free to enter, open to poets of all ages. Theme: Heatwave. Original unpublished poetry in English; entries close 15 February.
MARCH 2027
1 March 2027, 23:59 GMT
2nd ISAC International Lyric Competition
Grand prize: JPY 50,000 and certificate; additional special-prize certificates may be awarded
Entry: JPY 2,000 per work
International competition for original song lyrics, open to all ages and nationalities, in any language, genre or length. No music or recording is required. Jointly written and previously published lyrics may be entered. AI-generated or AI-rewritten lyrics are prohibited. Note: joint entry through the composition form closes earlier, on 31 January 2027.
31 March 2027
Fish Poetry Prize 2027
Ireland / International — First prize €1,000 and publication in the Fish Anthology 2027. Open to poets of any nationality writing in English; poems up to 60 lines. Judge: Billy Collins. Online entry €16 first poem, €11 subsequent poems.
APRIL 2027
15 April 2027
Fish Haiku Prize 2027
Ireland / International — First prize €300; ten selected haiku or senryu published in the Fish Anthology 2027. Open to writers of any nationality writing in English. Maximum 20 words, plus a title of up to three words. Entry €5.
MAY 2027
31 May 2027
Bridport Prize 2027 — Poetry
UK / International — International writing prize welcoming poets worldwide. Poetry competition opens 15 November 2026 and closes 31 May 2027. Consult the organiser for current fees and prize details.
ADDING A NEW COMPETITION
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