Genre: Poetry

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.

Levis Reading Prize

Virginia Commonwealth University
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
January 15, 2026

A prize of $5,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to give a reading at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond is given annually for a first or second book of poetry published during the previous year. Publishers or writers may submit three copies of a book of at least 48 pages published in 2025, one PDF copy of the book, a cover letter, and a brief author bio by January 15. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Tags: 
first book awards | second book awards

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.
Tags: 
novel

Pegasus Poetry Book Prize

Poetry Foundation
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
February 2, 2026

An award of $10,000 and publication by Graywolf Press will be given triennially for a poetry collection by a U.S. poet who is 40 years old or older. Poets who have published no more than one poetry collection are eligible. Using only the online submission system, submit a manuscript of 48 to 80 pages and an application by February 2. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required application form, which can be accessed via Poetry Foundation’s online portal (applicants must register for portal access by January 26), and complete guidelines.

Yeats Poetry Prize

WB Yeats Society of NY
Entry Fee: 
$15
Deadline: 
February 1, 2026

A prize of $1,000 and publication on the WB Yeats Society of NY website is given annually for a single poem. The winner also receives a two-year membership to the organization and is invited to a ceremony in New York City. Joseph O. Legaspi will judge. Submit a poem of up to 60 lines with a $15 entry fee ($12 for each additional poem) by February 1. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Book Contest

Brick Road Poetry Press
Entry Fee: 
$30
Deadline: 
February 1, 2026

A prize of $1,000, publication by Brick Road Poetry Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Matthew Layne will judge. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 100 pages with a $30 entry fee by February 1. Finalists are considered for publication. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

James Welch Prize for Indigenous Poets

Poetry Northwest
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
February 15, 2026

Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication in Poetry Northwest are given annually for a single poem by an Indigenous poet. The winners also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to read with the judge at Poets House in New York City in the fall. Writers who have published no more than one full-length book and who are community-recognized members of tribal nations within the United States and its territories are eligible. A Native poet of national prominence will judge. Using only the online submission system, submit up to three poems of no more than three pages each, a cover letter specifying any tribal affiliations and ties, and a brief bio by February 15. All entries are considered for publication. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Cardinal Poetry Prize

Wesleyan University Press
Entry Fee: 
$25
Deadline: 
February 28, 2026

An award of $1,000 and publication by Wesleyan University Press will be given biennially for a poetry collection by a writer 40 years or older. The award will be given for a poet who has “taken their time and decided not to rush publication.” Poets who have yet to publish a collection or have not published a collection within the last ten years will be eligible. Robert Pinsky will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 64 pages with a $25 entry fee by February 28. Financial assistance is available on request based on financial need. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award

Broadside Lotus Press
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
March 15, 2026

A prize of $500 and publication by Broadside Lotus Press is given annually for a poetry collection by an African American poet. Submit two copies of a manuscript of approximately 60 to 90 pages by March 15. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for complete guidelines.

Maureen Egen Writers Exchange Award

Poets & Writers, Inc.
Entry Fee: 
$0
Deadline: 
March 1, 2026

Two prizes of $750 each are given annually to a poet and a fiction writer residing in the United States. Both winners also receive a monthlong residency at Jentel Artist Residency in Wyoming and will meet with writers, editors, publishers, and agents virtually or in person in New York City. The 2026 contest is open to residents of Connecticut. Poets and fiction writers who have published no more than one full-length book in the genre in which they are applying are eligible. Submit 7 to 10 pages of poetry or up to 25 pages of fiction via e-mail by March 1. There is no entry fee. Visit the website for the required entry form and complete guidelines.

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