Nightboat Books Poetry Prize
Nightboat Books · terms quoted from the contest's own page
Deadline, in the contest's own words
DEADLINE: November 15, 2026 at 11:59pm EST.
The deadline quote prints a time and a time zone; both are the page's own. Our check read the page on October 31, 2026; confirm on the contest's page before entering.
Our guidance written by Tale of the Muse
Submissions run September 1 to November 15, 2026, with the deadline printed as 11:59pm EST, and the fee is $28; the page says its 25 fee waivers have all been claimed. Manuscripts need at least 48 paginated pages with no more than one poem per page. Translations are excluded, and earlier book publication doesn't affect eligibility. The winner receives a $1,200 advance, a standard royalty contract and 25 copies, with publication planned for 2029.
Our explanation of what the quoted terms mean for an entrant. It adds no facts of its own and is not advice about whether to enter.
The terms, quoted
| Deadline and submission period, as printed | DEADLINE: November 15, 2026 at 11:59pm EST. Submissions will be open September 1-November 15, 2026. |
|---|---|
| Entry fee | ENTRY FEE: We charge a $28 entry fee. |
| Fee waivers | We offer 25 fee waivers on a first-come-first-served basis. This year’s fee waivers have all already been claimed. |
| Prize | The winning poet(s) receives a $1,200 advance, a standard royalty contract, and 25 free copies of the published book. |
| Judge | Not stated on the pages we quote |
| Eligibility and limits | Any poet writing in English, including international Anglophone writers. Previous book publication is not a consideration for eligibility. Original work only; translations are not eligible for the prize. |
| Submission requirements | FORMAT: Minimum of 48 pages, paginated, no more than one poem per page. SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Simultaneous submissions are acceptable. Please notify Nightboat Books immediately if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere. |
| Rights terms (copyright, first publication, reproduction) | No rights statement on the pages we quote |
| How results are announced | Winner(s) will be announced by April 2027. Winning collection(s) to be published Spring-Fall 2029. |
Sources
- About the Prize (Nightboat Books). Our check: October 31, 2026.
The contest's own page is the authority; if it differs from this page, it is right. Report a difference.