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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June 2026

sun28jun11:00 am11:59 pmFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventRegeneration: Poetry Exploring the EnvironmentCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:Free Max Length:100 lines or 750 words (whichever is lower) Top Prize:£200

tue30jun1:00 am12:00 pmOnline EventWells Festival of Literature's International Creative Writing CompetitionsCategory:Children's Literature, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£8 Max Length:Depends on category Top Prize:£1,000

tue30jun1:57 am1:57 amOnline EventThe Poetry.com Monthly ContestCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:75 lines Top Prize:$500 and publication

tue30jun10:48 am10:48 amOnline EventThe Poetry London PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max Length:80 lines Top Prize:£5,000

tue30jun3:34 pm3:34 pmOnline EventMay Sarton New Hampshire Poetry PrizeRecognizing outstanding book-length poetry collectionsCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:80 pages Top Prize:$1,000, book publication by Bauhan Publishing, 50 author copies, and distribution

July 2026

wed01jul2:22 am2:22 amFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventBoardman Tasker Award for Mountain LiteratureCategory:Drama, Fiction, Non-fiction, PoetryUnited KingdomMax Length:Full manuscript Top Prize:£3,000

wed01jul12:00 pm12:00 pmCancelledOnline EventChaotic Creators Magazine Poetry ContestCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£3 Max Length:42 lines Top Prize:£50 and publication

wed15jul10:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventNew Writers Poetry Competition 2026Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max Length:42 lines Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

wed15jul12:28 pm12:28 pmOnline Event2026 Rattle Poetry PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$15,000 USD and publication in the Winter 2026 issue of Rattle

wed29jul2:00 pm11:59 pmOnline EventThe Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction, Poetry, and BooksCategory:Full Manuscript, Poetry, Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:5000 words Top Prize:$3000

fri31jul1:21 pm1:21 pmOnline EventThe International Dark Poets PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£6 Max Length:250 words per poem Top Prize:Share of a £1,800 total cash prize fund, official winner certification, a Dark Poets Club T-shirt, and publication

fri31jul9:04 pm9:04 pmOnline EventWinchester Poetry Prize 2026Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£7 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 2026

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

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