Genre: Poetry

National Book Awards

National Book Foundation
Entry Fee: 
$135
Deadline: 
May 13, 2026
Four prizes of $10,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and young people’s literature written by U.S. writers and published in the United States during the previous year. A $10,000 prize is also given for an English translation of a book of fiction or nonfiction by a living writer and translator published in the United States during the previous year. Finalists in all categories receive $1,000 each. Using the online submission form, publishers may submit titles published or scheduled for publication between December 1, 2025, and November 30, 2026, with a $135 entry fee per title by May 13. Additionally, a digital copy and six hard copies (or bound galleys) of the books must be submitted to the judges and the National Book Foundation by June 5. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

Poetry Contest for Emerging Poets

Boulevard
Entry Fee: 
$18
Deadline: 
June 1, 2026
A prize of $1,000 and publication in Boulevard is given annually for a group of poems by a poet who has not published a poetry collection with a nationally distributed press. The editors will judge. Submit three poems of any length with an $18 entry fee, which includes a subscription to Boulevard, by June 1. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Literary Awards

New Letters
Entry Fee: 
$24
Deadline: 
May 18, 2026
Three prizes of $2,000 each and publication in New Letters are given annually for a poem, a short story, and an essay. Using only the online submission system, submit up to six poems totaling no more than 30 pages or a story or an essay of up to 8,000 words with a $24 entry fee, which includes a digital subscription to New Letters, by May 18. All entries are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Bridport Prizes

Bridport Arts Centre
Entry Fee: 
$16
Deadline: 
May 31, 2026
Two prizes of £5,000 (approximately $6,699) each and publication in the Bridport Prize anthology are given annually for a poem and a short story. A prize of £1,500 (approximately $2,010), publication, and mentorship with the Literary Consultancy is also given for a debut novel-in-progress. Additionally, a prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,340) and publication is given for a work of flash fiction. Two second-place prizes of £1,000 each (approximately $1,340) and publication are also given for the poetry and short story awards. Anthony Anaxagorou will judge in poetry, Manuel Muñoz will judge in short fiction, Jennie Godfrey will judge in debut fiction, and Tania Hershman will judge in flash fiction. Submit a poem of up to 42 lines, a story of up to 5,000 words, between 5,000 and 8,000 words of a novel’s opening chapters with a 300-word synopsis, or a work of flash fiction of up to 250 words by May 31. The entry fee is £13 (approximately $17) for poetry, £15 (approximately $20) for short fiction, £26 (approximately $35) for debut fiction, and £12 (approximately $16) for flash fiction. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Award

Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
July 1, 2026
A prize of $1,000 and publication on the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation website is given annually for a single poem that explores “positive visions of peace and the human spirit.” Submit up to three poems of no more than 30 lines each with a $15 entry fee by July 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Editors’ Prize Book Award

Cider Press Review
Entry Fee: 
$27
Deadline: 
June 30, 2026
A prize of $1,000, publication by Cider Press Review, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. The editors will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages with a $27 entry fee by June 30. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Chapbook Prize

Oversound
Entry Fee: 
$18
Deadline: 
May 31, 2026
A prize of $1,000, publication by Oversound, and 50 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Ari Banias will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 15 to 30 pages with an $18 entry fee ($21 for a back issue of Oversound or a chapbook) by May 31. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Marystina Santiestevan First Book Prize

Conduit Books & Ephemera
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
July 7, 2026
A prize of $1,500, publication by Conduit Books & Ephemera, and 15 author copies is given annually for a debut poetry collection. Bob Hicok will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 90 pages with a $25 entry fee by July 7. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Cow Creek Chapbook Prize

Pittsburg State University
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
May 15, 2026
A prize of $1,000, publication by Pittsburg State University, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry chapbook. Using only the online submissions system, submit manuscript of 15 to 30 pages with a $15 entry fee by May 15. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Gravity of Kindness

Naomi Shihab Nye’s poem “Kindness,” which appears in her 1995 book, Words Under the Words: Selected Poems, begins: “Before you know what kindness really is / you must lose things….” The next two stanzas start similarly with: “Before you learn the tender gravity of kindness / you must travel…” and “Before you know kindness as the deepest thing inside, / you must know sorrow….” Compose a three-stanza poem that takes a cue from this parallel structure, starting the first line of each stanza with: “Before you know _____, you must _____.” Think about a quality, such as kindness, that you highly value and how your understanding of it has changed over time. What are the lessons you have learned and what do you hope to pass on to others?

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