Poetry contests, deadlines as printed
Every value quoted from the contest's own page, checked October 31, 2026.
How this calendar works
Every value in the calendar is quoted from the contest's own page, with the date our check found it. A deadline appears exactly as printed, with its year; a time and time zone appear only where the page prints them. We assume no time zone, count down to nothing, and show no open or closed status.
Contests whose printed deadline had passed by our check are left off until the next round is announced. Missing terms are marked not stated. We don't rate contests or say whether one is worth entering.
Contests by printed deadline
20 contests.
| Contest | Sponsor | Deadline, in the contest's own words | Entry fee, as printed | Prize, as printed | Our check |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson Festival of Books Literary Awards (poetry) contest's own page | Tucson Festival of Books | Submission Deadline: October 31, 2026source | No limit to number of entries ($20 fee per entry)source | In addition, all winners receive scholarships to the 2027 Tucson Festival of Books Masters Workshopsource | October 31, 2026 |
| The Helena Whitehill Book Award contest's own page | Tupelo Press | All entries must be postmarked or certified by Subfolio by midnight (EST) of October 31st, 2026source | A reading fee of $30 (U.S.) must accompany each submission.source | The Helena Whitehill Book Award includes a cash award of $1,000 in addition to publication by Tupelo Press, a book launch, national and international distribution by the University of Chicago Press, a one-week residence at Gentle House on the Olympic Peninsulasource | October 31, 2026 |
| Open Season Awards (poetry category) contest's own page | The Malahat Review | DEADLINE: 11:59pm (PST) on November 1, 2026source | CAD$35 for each entry from Canadasource | The winner in each genre will receive a prize of CAD$2,000 and be published in the magazine's spring 2027 issue #238.source | October 31, 2026 |
| The Poetry Business Pamphlet Competition contest's own page | The Poetry Business | The deadline for entries is midnight on Tuesday 17 November 2026.source Entries can be submitted online up to 11:59pm on 17/11/2026 .source | Full-price entry is £25. Subscribers to The North , Friends of the Poetry Business, and members of the Poetry Society are eligible for the discounted fee of £22.source | The two winners will also receive £500 each, publication in The North magazine, and readings at The Wordsworth Trust and online.source | October 31, 2026 |
| Nightboat Books Poetry Prize contest's own page | Nightboat Books | DEADLINE: November 15, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.source | ENTRY FEE: We charge a $28 entry fee.source | The winning poet(s) receives a $1,200 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 25 free copies of the published book.source | October 31, 2026 |
| A. Poulin, Jr. Poetry Prize contest's own page | Boa Editions | Judge Jennifer Chang Reading Period August 1 – November 30, 2026source | Submission fee: $30.source | $1,000 honorarium and publication. Submission fee: $30. Judge Jennifer Changsource | October 31, 2026 |
| UNT Rilke Prize contest's own page | University of North Texas, Creative Writing and the Department of English | The submission period for the 2027 UNT Rilke Prize begins August 1, 2026 and closes November 30, 2026.source | No submission fee.source | The UNT Rilke Prize awards $10,000 to a collection that demonstrates exceptional artistry and vision written by a mid-career poet and published in the preceding year.source | October 31, 2026 |
| James Dickey Prize for Poetry contest's own page | Five Points: A Journal of Literature and Art (Georgia State University) | The contest will be active again on Sept. 1, 2026 through Dec. 1, 2026.source | Entry fee includes a one-year subscriptionsource | The contest winner receives $1,000, and the winning poems are published in an issue of Five Points .source | October 31, 2026 |
| Writer's Digest Poetry Awards (Single Poem and Chapbook) contest's own page | Writer's Digest | Entries must be submitted online (11:59 pm EST) by December 1, 2026.source EARLY-BIRD DEADLINE: November 2, 2026source | Early-Bird Deadline: November 2, 2026 Single Poem entry—$20 for the first entry; $15 for each additional poetry entry.source | One First Place Winner in each category will receive: $1,000 in cashsource | October 31, 2026 |
| Frontier Poetry 2026 Devotion & Divination Prize contest's own page | Frontier Poetry | Submission Guidelines 2026 Devotion & Divination Prize October 12 to December 13, 2026source Submissions open October 12 and close December 13, 2026.source | You may submit multiple times, but each submission requires a separate $20 fee.source | The first-place winner will receive $3,000 and publication.source | October 31, 2026 |
| PSA Chapbook Fellowship contest's own page | Poetry Society of America | DEADLINE October 1-December 15, 2026source | The entry fee is $14.source | PRIZE $1000 and publicationsource | October 31, 2026 |
| The Dorset Prize for Poetry contest's own page | Tupelo Press | All entries must be postmarked or certified by Subfolio by midnight (EST) of December 31st, 2026.source | A reading fee of $30 (U.S.) must accompany each submission.source | A cash prize and a 2 week-long residency in Port Angeles, WA, worth $1,500 in addition to publication by Tupelo Press, 25 copies of the winning title, a book launchsource | October 31, 2026 |
| Joe Gouveia Outermost Poetry Contest contest's own page | WOMR – Outermost Community Radio | DEADLINE: Monday, January 11th, 2027 postmark.source | You must include a $15 submission check per 5 poems submitted.source | We are awarding $1,000 to the National winner and $300 to a Regional, Cape Cod-based poet.source | October 31, 2026 |
| Colorado Prize for Poetry contest's own page | Center for Literary Publishing, Colorado State University | Manuscripts will be accepted between October 1, 2026, and the postmark deadline of January 14, 2027 (note that we observe a five-day grace period for both paper and online submissions).source | There is a $28 online entry fee , which includes a one-year subscription to Colorado Review.source | The winning book-length collection of poems will be published by the Center for Literary Publishing and distributed by the University Press of Colorado in the fall of 2027. The author receives a $2,500 honorarium .source | October 31, 2026 |
| Guernsey International Poetry Competition 2027 (Poems on the Move) contest's own page | Guernsey Literary Festival | Closing date for receipt of entries: 15 January 2027 23:59 BSTsource | Entries are £5 per poem or 3 poems for £12. Young People’s Poetry: FREE Fees are non-refundable.source | Open Poetry Open to poets worldwide. Entry: £5 per poem or 3 poems for £12 1st prize £1000 2nd place £500 3rd place £250source | October 31, 2026 |
| Magma Poetry Competition (Judge's Prize and Editors' Prize) contest's own page | Magma Poetry | Deadline 31 January 2027 11:59 pm GMTsource | The entry fees are £8 for the first poem , £6 for the second and each subsequent poem .source | First prize for the Judge’s and Editors’ Prize is £1000, second prize £500 and third prize £250.source | October 31, 2026 |
| The Poetry Box Chapbook Prize 2027 contest's own page | The Poetry Box | Entries must be submitted between February 1 – March 15, 2027 . (Midnight, PST)source | The entry fee of $25.00 is payable through Submittablesource | Grand Prize Award: $750 plus 10 copies of their published chapbooksource | October 31, 2026 |
| Fish Poetry Prize contest's own page | Fish Publishing (Ireland) | Closes: 31 March ‘27 Results: 15 May '27source | Entry Fees: €16 / €11 subsequent entries. (Optional Critique €45)source | 1st prize: €1,000source | October 31, 2026 |
| Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize (with Robert Creeley and Rochelle Ratner Memorial Awards) contest's own page | Marsh Hawk Press | To submit (beginning December 1, 2026, and open until 11:59 PM EST on April 30, 2027), click here .source | The Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize entry fee is $30.00 for each submission.source | The Marsh Hawk Press Poetry Prize winner receives $2,000.00, book publication, and promotion. Winners of the Robert Creeley and Rochelle Ratner prizes, selected from finalists, receive $250.00 each.source | October 31, 2026 |
| Raleigh Review Laux & Millar Poetry Book Prize contest's own page | Raleigh Review | Deadline is June 1, 2028 at midnight EST on Submittable and Duosuma.source | STANDARD ENTRY FEE: $15 USD per manuscript via our Submittable pathway.source | First or Second Poetry Book Prize includes $500 USD and book publication inside the prize issue, both print and online. Outside of the $500 USD prize, there are no author royalties being offered at this time.source | October 31, 2026 |
Our reading written by Tale of the Muse
Our count from the deadline quotes in this table: 20 contests whose own pages print a deadline with the year that falls after our check. 10 of those quotes print a closing time with a time zone, 1 print a time without a zone, and 9 print a date alone; each is shown just as printed. Every contest has its own page with all of its quoted terms and our guidance on what they mean.
Our count over the contests on this page. It adds no facts of its own.
Poetic forms
17 forms with their rules quoted and public-domain examples.
Poets laureate
The national post and the states, from official sources.
Method
Where every fact comes from and how it is rechecked.