Genre: Poetry

Henry Morgenthau III First Book Poetry Prize

Passager Books
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
January 15, 2026

A prize of $2,000 and publication by Passager Books is given biennially for a first book of poems by a writer who is 70 years old or older. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 65 pages with a $25 entry fee by January 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Writing Prizes

swamp pink
Entry Fee: 
$20
Deadline: 
January 31, 2026

Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication in swamp pink are given annually for a single poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit up to three poems or a story or essay of up to 25 pages with a $20 entry fee by January 31. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Balcones Prizes

Austin Community College
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
January 31, 2026

Three prizes of $1,500 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a book of fiction, and a book of creative nonfiction published during the previous year. Authors or publishers may submit three copies of a book published in 2025 (poetry collections must be at least 42 pages in length) by January 31. The entry fee is $25 for poetry and $30 for fiction and creative nonfiction. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Lexi Rudnitsky Editor’s Choice Award

Persea Books
Entry Fee: 
$30
Deadline: 
March 15, 2026

A prize of $2,000 and publication by Persea Books is given annually for a poetry collection by a poet who is a U.S. citizen or resides in the United States and who has published at least one poetry collection. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of at least 48 pages with a $30 entry fee by March 15. A limited number of fee waivers are available on request based on financial need. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Wild Women Story Contest

TulipTree Publishing
Entry Fee: 
$20
Deadline: 
March 8, 2026

A prize of $1,000 and publication in TulipTree Review is given annually for a single poem, a short story, or an essay “whose main characters embody the Wild Woman spirit.” Submit up to five pages of poetry or up to 10,000 words of prose with a $20 entry fee by March 8. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Self-Publishing Literary Awards

Black Caucus of the American Library Association
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
February 28, 2026
Two prizes of $2,500 each are given annually for a poetry e-book and a fiction e-book self-published by an African American writer during the previous year. The awards honor books that depict “cultural, historical, and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.” Using only the online submission system, submit an e-book self-published in 2025 by February 28. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Allen Ginsberg Poetry Awards

Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College
Entry Fee: 
$20
Deadline: 
February 1, 2026

A prize of $2,000 and publication in Paterson Literary Review is given annually for a single poem. A second-place prize of $1,000 and publication is also given. The winning poets are invited to give a reading at the Poetry Center in Paterson, New Jersey. Using only the online submission system, submit three copies of up to five poems of no more than two pages each with a $20 entry fee by February 1. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Snowbound Chapbook Award

Tupelo Press
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
February 28, 2026

A prize of $1,000, publication by Tupelo Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Richie Hoffman will judge. Submit a manuscript of 20 to 36 pages with a $25 entry fee by February 28. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Big Moose Prize

Black Lawrence Press
Entry Fee: 
$30
Deadline: 
January 31, 2026
A prize of $1,000, publication by Black Lawrence Press, and 10 author copies is given annually for a novel. The contest is open to traditional novels as well as “novels-in-stories, novels-in-poems, and other hybrid forms that contain within them the spirit of a novel.” The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 90 to 1,000 pages with a $30 entry fee by January 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.
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Paterson Poetry Prize

Poetry Center at Passaic County Community College
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
February 1, 2026

A prize of $2,000 is given annually for a poetry collection published in the previous year. The winning poet is expected to participate in an awards ceremony, give a reading, and teach a workshop at the Poetry Center in Paterson, New Jersey. Publishers and authors may submit two copies of books of at least 48 pages published in 2025 with a $25 entry fee by February 1. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

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