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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April 2026

wed15apr5:32 pm5:32 pmOnline EventThe Florida Review Editor’s PrizesCategory:Poetry, ProseInternationalEntry Fee:$20 Max Length:30 pages (prose); 5 poems (poetry) Top Prize:$1,000 and publication in The Florida Review

thu30apr2:26 am2:26 amOnline EventWare Poets Open Poetry CompetitionCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max Length:50 lines Top Prize:£1,000 and publication

thu30apr12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestCategory:Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Multiple categories, Poetry, Prose, Short Fiction, Short Non-fiction, SongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:$15 USD Max Length:100 words or less (including any title) according to Microsoft Word. Top Prize:$1,000 USD

thu30apr4:02 pm4:02 pmOnline EventThe Adrienne Rich Award for PoetryCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:10 pages Top Prize:$1,500 + publication in BPJ

thu30apr5:22 pm5:22 pmMarsh Hawk Press Poetry PrizesCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$30 Max Length:84 pages Top Prize:$2,000, book publication, and promotion

May 2026

thu30apr12:00 am11:59 pmOnline EventTadpole Press 100-Word Writing ContestCategory:Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Multiple categories, Poetry, Prose, Short Fiction, Short Non-fiction, SongwritingInternationalEntry Fee:$15 USD Max Length:100 words or less (including any title) according to Microsoft Word. Top Prize:$1,000 USD

thu30apr7:00 pm11:59 pmOnline EventRhina Espaillat Poetry AwardCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$7 (Free to Plough subscribers) Max Length:50 lines Top Prize:$2000

fri01may4:00 pm4:00 pmOnline EventThe Alpine Fellowship Poetry PrizeAwarded for the best poetic response on the theme of 'JOY'Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£10 Max Length:500 words Top Prize:£3,000

fri01may5:15 pm5:15 pmOnline EventThe Malahat Review’s Far Horizons Award for PoetryCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:60 lines Top Prize:$1,250 and publication

fri15may2:51 pm2:51 pmOnline EventThe Montreal International Poetry PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$25 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:$20,000

sat16may8:00 am7:00 amOnline EventF(r)iction Spring 2026 Writing ContestsCategory:Creative Nonfiction, Flash Fiction, Poetry, Short FictionInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:$300 (poetry, flash fiction) to $1,000 (short story)

sat16may7:48 pm7:48 pmOnline EventStanley Kunitz Memorial PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:$15 Max Length:Three pages Top Prize:$1,000 and copy of the magazine for all entrants

mon25may12:40 pm12:40 pmOnline EventLondon Independent Story Prize (LISP)Category:Flash Fiction, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£15 Max Length:300 (flash fiction); 3000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize:£100 and publication

sun31may2:46 am2:46 amOnline EventThe Whispering Wisdom Poetry CompetitionCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:£250

sun31may12:06 pm12:06 pmOnline EventThe Yeovil Literary PrizeCategory:Children's Literature, Novel, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:Depends on category - check organizer's website Max Length:10,000 (novel); 2,000 (short story); 40 lines (poetry); 3,000 (young adult) Top Prize:£1350

sun31may3:13 pm3:13 pmOnline EventNever Too Late 60+ AwardCelebrating the achievements of writers aged 60 and overCategory:Flash Fiction, Novel, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£12 - £26 Max Length:Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize:£500 and publication

sun31may3:41 pm3:41 pmOnline EventPoetry Book AwardsCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£40 Max Length:Full manuscript Top Prize:£800 and promotional benefits (certificates, featured reviews, website showcase)

sun31may10:51 pm10:51 pmOnline EventFrogmore Poetry PrizeCategory:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£4 Max Length:40 lines Top Prize:250 guineas (£262.50) + 2-year subscription to The Frogmore Papers

June 2026

mon01jun2:16 pm2:16 pmOnline EventArizona Authors Association Literary ContestCategory:Fiction, Poetry, Short Story, Unpublished BooksInternationalEntry Fee:$40 (members); $50 (non-members) Max Length:50 lines (poetry); 5,000 (short fiction/nonfiction); 25 pages (novels/novellas/plays) Top Prize:$500 and publication in the Arizona Authors Literary Magazine

mon01jun7:46 pm7:46 pmOnline EventThe Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year 2026Category:PoetryInternationalEntry Fee:£5 Max Length:60 lines Top Prize:£300, publication, and title of 'Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year'

mon15jun9:04 am9:04 amFREE to enter! Yay!Online EventThe Paz Prize for PoetryPoetry originally written in Spanish by an American residentCategory:PoetryUSAEntry Fee:Free Max Length:No limit Top Prize:$2,000 and publication

mon15jun1:13 pm1:13 pmOnline EventThe Bridport Prize 2026Category:Flash Fiction, Micro Fiction, Novel, Poetry, Short StoryInternationalEntry Fee:£12 - £26 Max Length:42 lines (poetry); 5,000 (short story); 250 (flash fiction); 8,000 (novel); 8,000 (memoir) Top Prize:£1,000 - £5,000 and publication

mon15jun5:09 pm5:09 pmOnline EventLenore Marshall Poetry PrizeCategory:PoetryUSAEntry Fee:$75 Max Length:Full manuscript Top Prize:$25,000, a ten-day residency at Glen Hollow, and distribution of the winning book

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

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

August 2026

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

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

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

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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