Whether you’re crafting sonnets, experimenting with haiku, or exploring free verse, poetry competitions offer poets the chance to share their work, gain recognition, and connect with the literary community. Our curated list features poetry contests throughout the year, from international competitions with substantial prizes to niche contests celebrating specific forms and themes.

Our poetry competition directory includes opportunities for poets at every stage of their writing journey. You’ll find contests specifically for emerging poets, student competitions, themed poetry awards, and prestigious prizes judged by established poets and editors. Many competitions offer not just monetary prizes but also publication opportunities, mentorship, and the chance to build your portfolio.

Each listing includes essential details like submission deadlines, entry fees, prize amounts, eligibility requirements, and links to official guidelines. We regularly update this page to ensure you have access to current opportunities, helping you plan your submissions throughout the year and find competitions that align with your poetic style and career goals.

FYI: You can view other types of writing competitions (short story, flash fiction, essay, etc.) on our main Writing Competitions page.

Note: We do not host any of the events listed here. If you have questions about a particular event please reach out to the event organizer. Always do your own research before submitting your work. See our FAQ page for answers to common questions about writing competitions.
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August 2026

fri21aug11:59 pm11:59 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventLetterkenny Literary Festival Poetry Competition 2026Category:PoetryIrelandEntry Fee:Free Max Length:30 lines Top Prize:€150

sun30aug2:46 pm2:46 pmOnline EventThe Ekphrastic Poetry PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:Three poems under ten pages Top Prize:$3,000, publication, interview in Palette Poetry

mon31aug12:00 am12:00 pmOnline EventCharleston Writing ContestSubmit original works about Charleston, South CarolinaCategory:Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:2,500 words (fiction/creative nonfiction); 30 lines (poetry) Top Prize:$500 cash and publication

mon31aug1:46 pm1:46 pmOnline EventTupelo Press 2026 Summer Open Reading PeriodCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 (reading feed) Max Length:28–47 pages (chapbook) or 48–90 pages (book-length collection) Top Prize:Publication, $1,000 advance, book launch, national distribution and promotion

mon31aug3:23 pm3:23 pmOnline EventThe 2026 Oxford Poetry PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max Length:60 lines Top Prize:£2,000 and publication in Oxford Poetry

mon31aug3:41 pm3:41 pmOnline EventSundress PublicationsFull-Length Poetry Manuscript Reading PeriodCategory:PoetryUSAEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:48–80 pages Top Prize:Publication contract (25 author copies; no cash prize)

mon31aug5:39 pm5:39 pmOnline EventThe St. Lawrence Book AwardFor debut poetry or prose collectionsCategory:Essay, Full Manuscript, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:95 pages (poetry); 280 pages (prose) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

mon31aug7:19 pm7:19 pmOnline EventAesthetica Creative Writing AwardInternational Literary Prize for Poetry and Short FictionCategory:Poetry, Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:£18 Max Length:40 lines (poetry); 2000 words (short fiction) Top Prize:£2,500, publication, and many assorted prizes

September 2026

sun06sep11:00 am11:00 amOnline EventCheltenham Poetry Festival International Poetry Prize 2026Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max Length:50 lines Top Prize:£300 and publication

mon07sep3:12 pm3:12 pmOnline EventTerrain.org 17th Annual ContestCategory:Fiction, Non-fiction, PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:7 pages (poetry, 1–5 poems); 5,000 words (fiction/non fiction) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication

wed30sep12:13 pm12:13 pmOnline EventThe Moth Nature Writing Prize 2026Category:Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, ProseInternationalEntry Fee:€16 Max Length:4,000 words (prose), No length limit for poetry Top Prize:€1,000 and a one-week stay at The Moth Retreat in rural Ireland

wed30sep12:43 pm12:43 pmOnline EventSaveAs Writers' International Writing CompetitionTheme: 'Lines of Communication'Category:Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee: £4 (poetry); £5 (short story) Max Length:60 lines (poetry); 3,500 words (short story) Top Prize:£200

wed30sep4:37 pm4:37 pmOnline EventMiller Williams Poetry PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$28 Max Length:90 pages Top Prize:$5,000 and publication

wed30sep11:12 pm11:12 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventSix Word Wonder ContestCategory:Memoir, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:6 words Top Prize:$100 and publication

October 2026

thu01oct12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventThe Scribes PrizeCategory:Poetry, Prose, Short Fiction, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:$5 Max Length:110 Top Prize:$250 and publication

thu01oct10:11 pm10:11 pmOnline EventTOM HOWARD/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:250 lines Top Prize:$3,500 and publication

wed14oct2:38 pm2:38 pmOnline EventPeter Porter Poetry Prize 2027One of Australia’s most prestigious poetry competitionsCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 ($20 for current ABR subscribers) Max Length:60 lines Top Prize:$6,000

fri16oct3:41 pm3:41 pmOnline EventThe 2027 Alice James AwardCategory:Full Manuscript, PoetryUSAEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:100 pages (minimum 48 pages, single-spaced) Top Prize:$2,000, book publication, and distribution

sat31oct12:01 am11:59 pmOnline EventThe Bedford Short Story and Poetry CompetitionCategory:Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8.50 Max Length:3000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£2000

sat31oct11:00 am11:00 amOnline EventAnthology Poetry Competition 2026Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:€18 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:€1,000 and publication

sat31oct1:19 pm1:19 pmOnline EventThe National Poetry Competition 2026Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£9 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:£5,000 and publication in The Poetry Review

November 2026

mon30nov12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestClever, uplifting stories in 100 words or lessCategory:Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Multiple categories, Poetry, Prose, Short Fiction, Short Non-fiction, SongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:100 words or less Top Prize:$1,000, publication, manuscript assessment, and other perks

December 2026

mon30nov12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestClever, uplifting stories in 100 words or lessCategory:Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Multiple categories, Poetry, Prose, Short Fiction, Short Non-fiction, SongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:100 words or less Top Prize:$1,000, publication, manuscript assessment, and other perks

thu31dec5:12 pm5:12 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventRejection CompetitionA competition to see who can acquire the most literary rejections in a calendar yearCategory:Creative Nonfiction, Essay, Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:No limit Top Prize:Publication online and bragging rights

February 2027

sun28feb12:52 pm12:52 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventCanterbury Tales Writing Competition 2026/7Create a poem or story that reflects the theme of “Transformations”Category:Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:500 words Top Prize:£300 in each age category, plus £1,000 for the winning entrant’s school library

April 2027

thu01apr2:47 pm2:47 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online Event2027 Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry ContestFree-to-enter humor poetry prizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:250 lines Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

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