Poetry Competitions

Poetry Competitions Intro

This page contains details of many national and international poetry competitions, contests, awards and prizes from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, England (and the rest of the UK), Ireland and the USA.

Last updated 1st October 2024

Poetry Competitions

On this page, you will find details of peotry competitions suitable for poets of all ages and levels of capability. I recommend that you read and make sure you fully understand the rules and the terms & conditions of each competition listed before entering.

PLEASE NOTE: Most of the poetry competitions listed on this page accept entries from writers living anywhere in the world. The country each publication is run from is listed so you know which global market you are submitting to.

Do You Run Poetry Competitions?

If you run poetry competitions and would like your contest to be included in the lists below, please contact me providing all of the following information (please don't just send me a link - give the full details requested below in an email):

  • How often you will be running the contest (eg, annually, quarterly, one-off)
  • The name of your poetry competition
  • A link to your website
  • The country you are based in
  • Closing date
  • The date you announce winners
  • Maximum word count or lines of poetry
  • Entry fee
  • Top prize
  • Any other details, including how winning writers' poems will be published and any limitations regarding style, theme etc.

If you spot any mistakes, incorrect information or broken links on this page, please feel free to contact me - I do my best to fix any problems quickly.

This page is updated regularly throughout the year. I add new poetry competitions as I become aware of them and update mistakes users point out. I undertake a full update, checking every link, during December / January each year.

Featured Poetry Competitions

Do you run poetry competitions? Would you like it featured on this page? If so, please get in touch. This page attracts thousands of visits a month.

Featured Competition: FanStory

At FanStory new poetry contests are available.

You'll Enjoy

  • Contests. Enter poetry contests that have cash prizes. Click here to view the poetry contest listing.
  • Feedback. Sharing your poetry is fun. And you will get fans that will follow your writing. New to writing poetry? That's okay - all skill levels welcomed.
  • Community.  Read poetry and follow writers that you enjoy. Enjoy sharing your poetry. Click here for info.

Poetry Contest Highlights

Rhyming Poem: Share a poem that has a clear rhyme scheme. Cash Prize!

8 Words or Less Poem: Can you write a poem with only 8 words? Now is your chance to try this and have a chance at the cash prize.

5-7-5 Poetry: Write a 5-7-5! What's that. It's a poem with three lines. The first line has five syllables. The second line has seven. The third line has five again.

Free Verse Poem: Write a poem that is free form. Free verse does not follow any structure or style. Enter for your chance at the cash prize.

Two Line Poem: Share a poem with two lines. Each line must have exactly six syllables. There should be an internal rhyme and an ending rhyme. View the announcement for an example. Cash prize to the winner.

Haiku: A Haiku is often about nature. It's a short poem. Cash Prize!

2-4-2 Poetry Contest: Share a poem that only has three lines and eight syllables. Cash Prize!

Children's Poetry Contest: Write a poem for a child. Share a poem that your child or grandchild would enjoy. Cash Prize!

View the full list of poetry competitions.

Regular Poetry Competitions

This list contains information about poetry competitions run on a regular basis; daily, weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, quarterly, bi-annually, tri-annually etc. If you're new to poetry and have not yet been published, this is a good place to start.

Regular Poetry CompetitionCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedMax LinesEntry FeeTop PrizeRegular Poetry Competition Notes
Anansi Archive Poetry CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly500 words£1£20Any style / genre - they also run quarterly flash fiction and short fiction competitions
Cinnamon Press Poetry PrizesWalesVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesThey run a variety of literary awards that change regularly - check website for more details
Dark Poets PrizeUKQuarterlyQuarterly200 words£5£500They ask for dark poetry - the winner will have their poem/s published online and shared on social media, along with a dedicated spotlight on the competition page
FanStory Poetry ContestsUSAWeeklyWeeklyVariesVariesVariesFanStory run a variety of contests including Haiku, Sonnet, 3 Line Poem and many more - they add new competitions on a weekly basis
Fiction Factory Poetry CompetitionUKBiannuallyBiannually40 lines£5£100Any style, subject or theme - they offer additional prizes in the form of critiques and mentoring - short-listed poems published on website
F(r)iction ContestUSABiannuallyBiannually3 pages$10$300Any style, subject or theme - they also have creative nonfiction, flash fiction and short story categories - winners published online and considered for publication in print in the F(r)iction journal
Friedrich Naumann Foundation Poems of LibertyBelgiumBiannuallyBiannuallyno limitFREE€ 250Any style or subject but check website for current topics - winning poems published in Poems of Liberty - all selected poems will receive a 250 EUR - to find competition page, put "Poems of Liberty" followed by the current year into the website seach box
Letter Review Prize for PoetryAustraliaBi-MonthlyBi-Monthly70 linesFREE$333Any style / genre - there are three winners who each receive the $333 top prize - winners published at Letter Review - all entrants considered for publication
New Millennium AwardsUSABi-AnnuallyBi-AnnuallyVariesVariesVariesAny style, subject or theme - they've been running a variety of awards since 1996, so best to check website for current details
Templar Poetry AwardsUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesThey run lots of different competitions - most offer publication and prize money, but check website for current opportunities - contests include poetry collections, pamphlets and more
The League of Poets Weekly ContestNigeriaWeeklyWeekly40 linesFREEVariesAny style or subject, but each week there is a different topic / theme, so check website for current details - prizes vary, but winners always receive certificates of writing distinction - they also accept flash fiction
Wax Poetry and Art Magazine's Poetry ContestsCanadaVariesVariesNo max statedFREEVariesAny style or subject, but themes vary, so check website for full details - top prize has been up to CAD $1,000 in the past - winners published via Wax Poetry and Art Network

Prestigious / Big Prize Poetry Competitions

This list contains details of prestigious poetry competitions offering large monetary prizes in excess of £1,000 ($, € or other currency). Competition will be high - big prizes tend to attract more entries.

Prestigious Poetry CompetitionCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedMax LinesEntry FeeTop PrizePrestigious Poetry Competition Notes
Aesthetica Creative Writing AwardUKAugustDecember40 lines£12£2,500Any style / genre - winning poems published in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual - winners also receives poetry society membership, books and magazine subscriptions - they also accept short stories
Alpine Fellowship Writing PrizeUKVariesVariesVariesFREEVariesAny style but themed, so check website for this year's details - winner and two runners up invited to attend the next symposium - top prize has been up to £10,000 in the past
Anthology Magazine Poetry AwardIrelandOctoberDecember40 lines€ 18€ 1,000Any style, subject - winner published in Anthology Magazine and on the AM website
Arran Theatre and Arts Trust McLellan Poetry PrizeScotlandVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style, subject or theme - top prize has been up to £1,500 in the past - usually closes around June / July
Arrowsmith Press Derek Walcott Prize for PoetryUSAFebruaryOctoberno max$20$1,000Any style, subject or theme - for full-length books of poems, hence no max wordcount - winner also receives other perks, so check website for full details
Bayou Magazine’s 'Kay Murphy Prize for Poetry'USAVariesVariesno max stated$20$1,000Any style, subject or theme - winner published in and receives a free subscription to Bayou Magazine - all entries are considered for publication
Breakwater Review Peseroff Prize Poetry ContestUSAVariesVariesno max stated$10$1,000Any style, subject or theme - all finalists considered for publication in the Breakwater Review - $10 fee allows you to submit up to 3 poems
Bridport Prize for PoemsUKMayNovember42 lines£10£5,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published in the Bridport Prize anthology
Brighton & Hove Arts Council Sussex Poetry CompetitionUKOctoberNovember40 lines£6£1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website and invited to read at the festival - selected poems will be displayed on Brighton & Hove buses - when running, the competition details can usually be found at the top of homepage but you can also put "competition" into their website's search box - also run a competition for students
Caterpillar Poetry PrizeIrelandMarchJuneno max stated€ 15€ 1,000Any style, subject or theme but written for children aged 7 to 11 years of age - winner published in the Irish Times
Christopher Tower Poetry Prize CompetitionUKVariesVaries48 linesFREE£3,000Themed, so check website for current details - for 16 to 18 year olds in full time education - winners published on website
Coffee-House Poetry 'Troubadour Poetry Prize'UKVariesVaries45 linesVariesVariesAny style, subject or theme - top prize varies, but is always thousands of pounds + goodies - highest I've seen top prize is £5,000 - entry fee is usually around the £5/£6 mark but does vary
Creative Writing Ink Poetry PrizeIrelandMayJuly42 lines€ 6€ 1,000Any style, subject or theme - in addition to cash, winner recieves a free creative writing course and is published on their website - to find the competition page, look in the "Resources" section of their website
Forward Arts Foundation Prizes For PoetryUKVariesOctoberNAFREE£10,000Prizes: 10K for best collection, 5K for best 1st collection, 1K for best single poem
Fresno State College of Arts Philip Levine Prize for PoetryUSAVariesVaries80 pagesVaries$2,000Any style, subject or theme - in addition to cash prize, winner is published by Anhinga Press - to find the current competition page, put 'levine' into their website's search function - entry fee is usually around the $25 to $30 mark
Globe Soup Autumn Poetry CompetitionUKAugustNovember50 lines£8£1,000Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details
Kent & Sussex Poetry Society Open CompetitionUKVariesVaries40 lines£5£1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published in the society’s annual Poetry Folio
Ledbury Poetry Festival Poetry CompetitionUKJuly?40 lines£5.75£1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners are offered the chance of reading at the Ledbury Poetry Festival - also run comps for children
Live Canon International Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVariesno max statedVaries£1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published in anthology
Manchester Poetry PrizeUKVariesVaries120 lines£18£10,000Any style, subject or theme - for best collection of 3 to 5 poems with a collective maximum of 12o lines
Mairtín Crawford Award for Poetry and Short StoriesUK (Belfast)MayVaries3 to 5 poems£6£1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners also receive a place on a writing retreat
Minds Shine Bright Confidence Writing CompetitionAustraliaMarchAugust260 lines$5$1,600Any style / genre but themed around confidence - multiple runner-up prizes - winning and commended entries published in anthology and winners will receive both a print and eBook version - runs biennially (every other year) – also open to flash fiction and short stories
Morrab Library's Patricia Eschen Prize for PoetryUKJulyOctober40 lines£5£2,000Any style, subject or theme - there is an additional "Sonnet Prize" with a £1500 top prize - they also run a competition for children - runs every other year - to find the current competition page, look in the "What's On" section of the website
Moth Magazine Nature Writing PrizeIrelandSeptemberDecember4,000 words€15€1,000Any style / genre but themed around nature: check website for full details -in addition to cash, winner receives a week's stay at a writing retreat - winners published in the Irish Times online - also accept fiction and non-fiction
Moth Poetry PrizeIrelandDecemberSpringno line limit€15€6,000Any style, subject or theme - four shortlisted poems will be published in Irish Times online - they also offer generous prizes for runners up
Munster Literature Fool for Poetry Chapbook CompetitionIrelandVariesVaries16 to 24 pages€25€1,000Any style, subject or theme - winner will have a chapbook published and be given 25 free copies - winner offered the chance to read at the Cork International Poetry Festival
Munster Literature Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry CompetitionIrelandNovemberVaries40 lines€7€2,000Any style, subject or theme - published in winter edition of Southword Literary Journal - winner also receives a trip to the Cork International Poetry Festival and place on a writer’s retreat
Munster Literature Southword Editor's Poetry AwardIrelandSeptemberVariesno line limit€24€1,000Any style, subject or theme - you have to submit 3 poems - winner published in Southword and they receive a one-year free subscription
New Writers Poetry CompetitionUKJulyOctober40 lines£10£1,000Any style, subject or theme - three winning poems published on website - £1 from each entry will be donated to First Story (England's leading creative writing charity for young people)
Omnidawn Poetry ContestsUSAQuarterlyQuarterlyVariesVaries$1,000 to $3,000Any style or genre - 4 contests run every year with different requirements - 2 have a $1,000 prize, 2 have a $3,000 prize - winners published professionally in a chapbook
Poetry London PrizeUKVariesVaries80 lines£8£5,000Any style, subject or theme - generous cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd place poets - winners published in Poetry London magazine
Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing PrizeUKJulyVaries3,000£12£1,000Any style / genre - winner published in Wasafiri Magazine - a single poetry entry can include up to three poems, which together total no more than 3,000 words - they also accept short stories and life writing
Robert Graves Poetry PrizeUKVariesVaries40 lines£5£1,000Any style, subject or theme - run by University of Roehampton and Wimbledon BookFest - winners published in Poem Magazine - if there's no obvious link to the current competition, look in the 'News' section of their website - usually closes around July / August time
Room Magazine Poetry ContestCanadaVariesVariesVariesVariesC$1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Room Magazine - entry includes subsciption to Room Magazine
Singapore Unbound Gaudy Boy Poetry Book PrizeSingapore / USAMayJuly70 to 120 pages$10$1,000Any style, subject or theme - entrants must be of Asian heritage - look in the 'opportunities' section of the website to find the current competition details - winner also earns book publication in the USA and Singapore
TCK Publishing Poetry AwardsUSAVariesVariesVariesVaries$1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website - no dedicated award page, so type 'award' into the search function at the top of the homepage and all the current award details will come up
The Bedford CompetitionUKOctoberDecember / January40 lines£8.50 / £6 for students£1,500Any style, subject or theme - winning and shortlisted entries published in anthology - all profits, after prize money has been awarded, go to charities / projects that help children and adults improve their literary skills - also open to short stories
The Brain Charity's Liverpool Poetry PrizeUKMarchJune40 lines£5£1,000Any style, subject or theme - £5 entry fee is a donation to The Brain Charity - to find the competition details, put "poetry prize" into the website search box
The New Guard Knightville Poetry ContestUSAVariesVaries150 lines$22$1,500Any style, subject or theme - winners published in The New Guard
The Plough's Rhina Espaillat Poetry AwardUSAMarchMay50 lines$5$2,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Plough Quarterly - free entry for subscribers - to find the competition details, click 'About Us' at the bottom of the homepage, then 'Submit Poetry' - entrants living outside the USA and Canada must email the UK office, see the ‘contact us' link on their subscription page
The Poetry Society National Poetry CompetitionUKOctoberFebruary40 lines£7£5,000Any style, subject or theme - winning poems maybe published - there are details of other prizes in the competition section of their website
TNQ Nick Blatchford Occasional Verse AwardCanadaFebruarySeptemberno limitC$40C$1,000Any style, subject or theme, but poems should be inspired by a specific occasion - entry includes a subscription to TNQ magazine - winner published in The New Quarterly - short-listed winners are considered for publication in TNQ (paid at $50)
Trio International Poetry CompetitionUKOctoberNovember40 lines£5£1,000Any style, subject or theme
Virginia Commonwealth University 'Levis Reading Prize'USAVariesAutumn / Fallno max / min 48 pagesFREE$5,000Any style, subject or theme - for poetry collections (books) - winner invited on all expenses paid trip to give a public reading - to find the current competition details, put 'levis' into their website search function - usually closes January / February
Wells Festival of Literature International Poetry CompetitionUKJuneOctober35 lines£6£1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website - they also run a competition for young poets
Wigtown Poetry CompetitionScotlandVariesVaries40 lines£6.50£1,500Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Southlight Magazine
Winchester Poetry PrizeUKJulyOctober40 lines£6£1,000Any style, subject or theme - winning, shortlisted and longlisted poems published in an anthology that is launched at Winchester Poetry Festival
Winning Writers Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry ContestUSAOctoberApril250 lines$22$3,5002 top prizes of $3,500: one for a poem in any style and one for a poem that rhymes or has a traditional style - winners published online
Winning Writers Wergle Flomp Humour Poetry ContestUSAAprilAugust250 linesFREE$2,000Any style, subject or theme but must be humorous - winners published online

Annual Poetry Competitions

This table lists details of poetry competitions, contests, prizes and awards that run on a yearly basis.

Annual Poetry CompetitionCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedMax LinesEntry FeeTop PrizeAnnual Poetry Competition Notes
Artemesia Arts Poetry CompetitionFranceAprilJuly40 lines€ 6£200Any style, subject or theme - up to 25 selected poems will be published, including the winning poems
Australasian Association of Writing Programs PrizesAustraliaJuneSeptemberSee notes$20See notesAAWP run a variety of writing competitions, please see below
Emerging Writers' poetry prize: Any style / genre but themed, so check website for current details - 40 lines (lineated poetry) or 400 words (prose poetry) - top prize is a festival pass to Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) and accommodation for the duration of the festival + a one-year annual membership to the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) + fully subsidised conference fees for the AAWP conference + invite to read at the event - Meniscus Literary Journal will also consider work for publication
Translators' Prize: For translations of 30 lines (poetry) or 3,000 words (prose) of entrant's own work translated into English - entries must be accompanied by a 'Translator's Statement of Intention' (up to 400 words) addressing the aims of the translation - prize is a festival pass to Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) and accommodation for the duration of the festival + a one-year annual membership to the Australasian Association of Writing Programs (AAWP) + fully subsidised conference fees for the AAWP conference + invite to read at the event - winners considered for publication in Meniscus Literary Journal
Beaver Trust Nature and the Ecological Emergency International Poetry CompetitionUKMaySeptember40 lines£4£150Any style, subject but themed, so check website for current details - there are also a variety of runner up prizes - winners announced at an awards ceremony in Bradford on Avon
Better Than Starbucks ContestsUSAVariesVariesVariesFREEVariesAny style, subject or theme - they run a variety of contests, including sonnet and haiku, so check website for current details - winners published in print and online - prizes up to $350 in the past
Black in White Poetry CompetitionUKJuneOctoberno limit£1.50£250Any style or subject but themed, so check the website for current details - under 18s can enter for free - there’s a special prize for best under 18s poem - prize winning and up to 25 highly commended poems will be published in a Black in White anthology - winners are announced at the book launch event during Black History Month
Blandford Rotary Short Story & Poetry CompetitionUKSeptemberNovember40 lines£3.50£100Any style, subject or theme - in addition to cash prizes, there is an award ceremony, cups, certificates, readings and other goodies - there are also categories for flash fiction, short stories and young writers - to find the current details put "competition" into their website's search box
Blue Mesa Review Poetry ContestUSAAugustOctober3 poems$12$500Any style, subject or theme -winning poems published in the Blue Mesa Review
Boston Review Poetry ContestUSAVariesVariessee notes$20VariesAny style, subject or theme - winner published in the Boston Review - enter up to 5 poems, 10 pages max in total - top prize has been up to $1,000 in the past
Burnham Book Festival Writing CompetitionUKFebruaryMayno max£5£100Any style / genre - entry is free for residents of Somerset & North Somerset - winners published in anthology - they also accept short stories and have categories for children
Cambrian Mountains Poetry CompetitionWalesNovemberJanuary40 lines£3.50£150Any style, subject or theme - three categories: best poem (English) £150 prize, best poem (Welsh) £150 prize and the Mid-Wales poetry prize, £100 prize - winners published in the Cambrian Mountains Society Journal and online - to find the competition page, type "competition" into the website's search box
Canterbury Festival Poet of the YearUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style, subject or theme - all shortlisted and longlisted entries published in an anthology - no dedicated page on website, so check 'News' section
Chesham Literary Festival Poetry CompetitionUKJuneJuly40 lines£3£100Any style, subject or theme but check website because they also have an optional suggested theme - winning poems published in anthology
Cheshire Prize for LiteratureUKJanuaryJune100 linesFREESee notesAny style, subject or theme - entrants must have lived, worked or studied in Cheshire, Wirral, Warrington or Halton (UK) - winners published in anthology by the University of Chester Press - competition is usually run in 4 year cycle: short stories, poetry, children’s literature and then scriptwriting - on occasion they run all 4 categories at once - prizes vary; top prize has been up to £500 in the past - to find competition page, put "literature prize" into the website search function
Creative Future Writers' AwardUKVariesVaries42 linesFREEVariesAny style / genre except children's or erotica and themed, so check website for full details - winners published in anthology - cash prize has been up to £100 in the past - deadline for submissions is usually around May / June - look in the 'what we do' section of their website to find competition details
Cultural Daily's Jack Grapes Poetry PrizeUSAAugustOctoberno max statedFREEVariesAny style or subject or theme - winner's published in Cultural Weekly - multiple cash prizes, top prize has been up to $500 in the past - no dedicated page on website, so put 'jack grapes' into their website's search function to see latest posts
Fosseway Writers Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVaries40 lines£5£50Any style or subject but themed so check website for current details - winners published on website - also run short story and flash fiction comps
Frances Browne Literary Festival Multilingual Poetry CompetitionUKAugustOctoberno max€ 5€ 250Any style or subject or theme - the contest is tri-lingual, open to entries in the English, Irish and Ulster-Scots languages - the top prize in each of the 3 language categories is €250
Grey Hen Press Poetry CompetitionUKAprilJune40 lines£3£100Any style, subject or theme - entrants must be female and over 60 years old - winners published on the website
Hammond House International Literary AwardsUKSeptemberDecember40 lines£10£100Any style / subject but themed so check website for current details - winning poems published by HH
Hastings Literary Festival Poetry CompetitionUKJuneAugust40 lines£5£100Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - winners published in anthology
Indigo Dreams Publishing Poetry PrizeUKMarchMay40 lines£5£250Any style, subject or theme - cash prizes for runners up - winners published in magazine
Ironbridge Festival of the Imagination Open Poetry CompetitionUKOctoberNovember35 lines£4£300Any style, subject or theme - run by Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists, so the link takes you to their website
Letterkenny Literary Festival Poetry CompetitionIrelandSeptemberOctober30 linesFREE£150Any style or subject but themed so check website for current details - five shortlisted entrants will be invited to read at the festival where the winner will be announced
Live Canon Poetry Collection CompetitionUKVariesVariesSee notesVariesSee notesAny style, subject or theme - for full poetry collections - winners offered a publication contract by Live Canon Poetry Press
Live Canon Poetry Pamphlet CompetitionUKVariesVariesSee notesVariesSee notesAny style, subject or theme - for pamphlets of between 18 and 35 poems - winners offered a publication contract by Live Canon Poetry Press
London Independent Short Story Prize (LISP)UKJulyOctober40 linessee notes£100Any style, subject or theme - entry fee varies depending on how close to the deadline you submit, so best to check website for current details - they have multiple categories, including flash fiction, poetry, short story and screenplay - winners published in anthology
Manchester Cathedral Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style but theme varies, so check website for current details - top prize has been up to £500 in the past - type 'competition' into their website's search function to find the latest details
Maria Edgeworth Literary Festival CompetitionIrelandMarchApril40 lines€ 5VariesAny style / genre - also accept short stories - top prize has been up to €250 in the past - the link takes you to the 'Literary Festival' section of their website, where the competition details can usually be found
Minds Shine Bright Seasons Writing CompetitionAustraliaMarchAugust260 lines$5$500Any style / genre but themed around the seasons - multiple runner-up prizes - winning and commended entries published in anthology and winners will receive both a print and eBook version - runs biennially (every other year) – also open to flash fiction and short stories
Mslexia Women's Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style, subject or theme - winners published in magazine and on website - doesn't run every year as they run loads of different writing contests so check website for current details
Never Such Innocence Poetry CompetitionUKFebruaryApril25 linesFREESee notesAny style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - for 9 to 18 year olds - open to poetry, art, speech and song - all participants receive a personalised certificate - winners work is published in a booklet and read at events
New Zealand Poetry Society International Poetry CompetitionNew ZealandMayJulySee notesSee notesSee notesAny style or subject or theme - there two categories: Open, 32 lines max, entry fee $7 for members, $8 for non-members, top prize $600 / Haiku: entry fee $2 for members, $3 for non-members, top prize $200 - to find the competition details, put "competition" into the website's search box - they also have junior categories for children
Ó Bhéal Five Words Poetry CompetitionIrelandJanuaryMarch50 lines€ 5€ 750Any style or subject but themed around 5 words, so see website for current details - winning and short listed entries published in anthology
Passionfruit Review Poetry PrizeUKOctoberNovember40 lines£3£100Any style, subject or theme - winner and shortlisted poems published in a special issue of The Passionfruit Review
Poetry Book AwardsWales, UKVariesVariesno max£30VariesAny style, subject or theme - for book length collections of poetry - cash prize has been up to £200 in the past - winner also receives PN Review subscription and their book is sent to Carcanet Press for consideration
Poetry on the Lake International Competition for the Silver WyvernItalyVariesVaries42 linesVariesVariesAny style but themed, so check website for current details - they are based on an island in Lake Orta, Italy - winner receives cash and a silver wyvern - top prize has been up to €500 in the past - Poetry on the Lake run other poetry contests with varying line limits, fees and prizes, so check out their website - winners published on website and in anthology
Poetry Quarterly Annual Poetry ContestUSAVariesVariesno max stated$10$300Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Poetry Quarterly
Poets and Players CompetitionUKMarchMay40 lines£4£600Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website and invited to read at prize giving ceremony
Prole Laureate Poetry CompetitionUKDecemberVariesno max£3£200Any style, subject or theme - winners are published in print and online
Renard Press Poetry CompetitionUKJuneSeptember100 lines / 750 wordsFREE£200Any style, subject but themed so check website for current information - winners published in anthology - when the competition is running, you can find details on their website homepage
SaveAs Writers Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style or subject, but themed, so check website for current details - winners published in anthology - top prize has been up to £500 in the past
Shepton Mallet Snowdrop Festival Poetry CompetitionUKJanuaryFebruary30 linesSee notes£200Any style or subject, but themed so check website for full details - 3 classes: up to 11 years old, 12–17 years old and above 18 years old - free entry for children, £4 for 18 and over category
Shooter Literary Magazine Poetry CompetitionUKNovemberDecember100 lines£3.50£150Any style, subject or theme - winner published in print & online - all entrants receive an e-copy of the magazine which the winning poem appears in
SMK ContestsUSAVariesVariesVariesVaries$100Any style or subject - they have multiple categories for flash fiction, poetry, short story, non-fiction, novel and more, so check website for full details
Soldiers' Arts Academy International Poetry CompetitionUKSeptemberOctober40 lines£4£50Any style, subject or theme - open to members of the military community (i.e. serving personnel, veterans and their families) - in addition to cash, winner also receives a selection of poetry books - winners published on website - to find the competition details, look in the 'Projects' section of their website
South Warwickshire Literary Festival Writing CompetitionUKMarchApril800£3.50£50Any style, subject or theme - winners offered the chance to read their work at the festival if they are able to attend - also open to fiction and non-fiction
Southport Writers' Circle International Poetry CompetitionUKAprilJune40 lines£3£150Any style, subject or theme - winners may be published on the SWC website for 12 months, with permission
Suffolk Poetry Society Crabbe Poetry CompetitionUKJuneOctober50 lines£3£600Any style, subject or theme - generous prizes for runners up - winners' poems read at a celebratory awards event and published in anthology
The Heartland Review Press / Elizabethtown College Joy Bale Boone Poetry PrizeUSANovemberMarchno max$10$500Any style, subject or theme - entry fee allows you to submit up to 3 poems - finalists are published in The Heartland Review and receive a free copy - to find the competition details, look in the "Community" section of the Elizabethtown College website (at time of writing, under Quick Links)
The Latin Programme Poetry CompetitionUKDecemberFebruary40 lines£12£200Any style, subject but themed, so check website for current details - all proceeds from entry fees go towards the delivery of Latin lessons in London state schools
The League of Poets Anthology of Contemporary Writers CompetitionNigeriaSeptember?14 lines$2See notesAny style or subject, but themed, so check website for current details - prize is publication for top 100 winners, certificates of participation and a free digital copy of the anthology - they also accept flash fiction
The London Magazine Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVaries40 lines£10£500Any style, subject or theme - winners published in London Magazine and online
The Phare WriteWords Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVaries40 lines£6£100Any style, subject or theme - also has flash fiction and short story categories - winners published in anthology
The Poetry Society Free Verse PrizeUKMarchApril40 lines£5£500Any style, subject or theme - winning poem published in Poetry News and included in the Free Verse programme, distributed to all attendees at the Poetry Book and Magazine Fair - the prize is run by the Poetry Society, in support of Free Verse - to find the competition page, put "free verse prize" into the website's search tool
Tim Saunders Publications' "The Paul Cave Prize for Children's Literature"UKFebruaryMarch30 lines£15£20Poems for children - winners published on website and in a book - winners receive a free printed copy of the book - also open to flash fiction and short stories
Tim Saunders Publications' "The Paul Cave Prize for Literature"UKSeptemberNovember30 lines£8£25Any style or genre - for novellas - winners published on website and receive a free copy of The Paul Cave Prize for Literature book - also open to flash fiction, novellas and short stories
Tom Neill's E. H. P. Barnard Poetry PrizeUKMarchJune400 words£2£100Any style or subject but themed so check website for current details - winner also receives a poem video, professionally performed, produced and promoted - the prize is hosted on Tom Neill's website
Tree2MyDoor Valentines Day Poetry CompetitionUKValentine's DayFebruary150 wordsFREESee notesAny style or subject but theme is Valentine's Day (love and romance) - open to UK residents only - winner receives £100 Tree2MyDoor gift voucher
Walk Listen Create's 'Write About Walking' CompetitionUKAugustSeptember250 words€ 9€ 100Any style or genre but themed so check the website for full details - open to poetry and prose - winning stories are published in illustrated anthology by Sampson Low Publishers - to find the contest details, look in the "Awards & Calls" section of their website
Ware Poets Open Poetry CompetitionUKJuneSeptember50 lines£5£600Any style or genre - runner up prizes include The Ware Sonnet Prize: £150 for the best sonnet submitted - winners published in anthology
Welsh Poetry CompetitionWalesVariesVaries50 linesVariesVariesAny style, subject or theme - winners and 17 runners up published on website and in anthology - top prize has been up to £500 in the past
Wirral Poetry Festival Open Poetry CompetitionUKMayJuly40 lines£4£250Any style, subject or theme - winner's published on the Wirral Poetry Festival website for a period of approximately 12 months
Wolverhampton Literary Festival Poetry CompetitionUKDecemberFebruary40 lines£4£400Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - winning and shortlisted poems may be published on the festival website and in an accompanying anthology
Write by the Sea Literary Festival Writing Competition (Poetry)IrelandJuneSeptember40 lines€ 10€ 500Any style, subject or theme - they also have categories for memoir, short stories and flash fiction
Writers Bureau Limerick CompetitionUKAprilJuneno max stated£5£300Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Freelance Market News - £5 entry is for up to 4 Limericks - they run other competitions throughout the year, so the focus of the competition page changes, depending on what is currently running
Writer's Relief WaterSedge Poetry Chapbook ContestUSAVariesVaries48 page book$20$500Any style, subject or theme - entrants must reside in the USA - for books up to 48 pages in length with 1 poem per page - winner's chapbook published in print and eBook format
Writing East Midlands Aurora Prize for WritingUKJuneOctober60 lines£9£500Any style / genre - run in partnership with the Society of Authors - winners receive feedback on a piece of work of their choice from a literary agent (or Editor as appropriate) OR they can choose to receive a full pass to The Writers’ Conference 2023 instead - to find the prize details, look in the "For Writers" section of their website or put "aurora" into their website's search box - also accept short stories

Poetry Competitions For Young Writers & Children

This list has now been moved to its own dedicated page to improve usability. You can see the young writer competitions page here. This resource lists writing and poetry competitions specifically for young adults and children.

There are sometimes other poetry opportunities for young writers listed in the one-off competitions lists below, or on the Flash Fiction competitions page. You can also find details of scholarships on my non-fiction contest page.

One-Off Poetry Competitions

This table will list one-off poetry competitions, poem writing contests, prizes and awards.

One-Off Poetry CompetitionCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedMax LinesEntry FeeTop PrizeOne-Off Poetry Competition Notes
Morecambe Poetry Festival CompetitionUK4th August 2024Sep-2450 lines£4£300Any style, subject or theme - winners may be published in festival anthology - run by Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists so the link takes you to their website
No other one-off poetry competitions to list at presentNANANANANANAMore one-off poetry competitions coming soon...

Other Poetry Competitions Lists

There are other websites that supply poetry competitions calendars. They are listed below (if you run one on your site, please get in touch):

  • Poetry Kit run a regularly updated poetry competitions list
  • Poetry Library list multiple poetry competitions with filters
  • Poets & Writers list poetry writing competitions, writing contests, grants & awards
  • The Poetry Society give details of some prestigious poetry competitions
  • Trish Hopkinson - lists multiple poetry competitions and other publishing opportunities, including contests, mags and more

A History of Closed Poetry Competitions

This table contains a history of previously listed poetry competitions, contests prizes and awards that have closed.

Poetry CompetitionCountryClosing DateWinners AnnouncedMax LinesEntry FeeTop PrizePoetry Competition Notes
A Poem For EuropeUK31st July 2019October32 lines£6£500Themed around Europe - winners published online and in print - CLOSED, was a one-off
Academy Press Poetry Chap Book ContestUSA30th July 2021To be confirmed80 pagesFREESee notesAny style, subject or theme - three divisions: under 18s, collegiate any undergraduate, and emerging MFA students and poets with no prior books published - one winner per devision - prize is publication and 80% royalties - CLOSED, was a one-off
Against the Grain Poetry Press CompetitionUKVariesVariesVaries£5£100Any style, subject or theme - deadline for submissions is usually around November / December - CLOSED 2020
Ageless Authors Writing ContestUSAJulySeptemberNo limit$20$500Any style or subject but sometimes themed, so check website for current contest details - entrants must be aged 50 years or older - winning poems published in anthology - CLOSED 2020
Anglica's Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style, subject or theme - the best poems will be published in Anglica's Journal - NOT RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2021 update
Artificium Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVaries40 lines£5VariesAny style, subject or theme - winners published in Artificium - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED during 2018, removed from lists 2019
Association of Christian Writers Writing CompetitionsUKVariesVariesVaries£3See notesThey run a variety of competitions (flash fiction, short story and poetry), so check website for current details - winners published in Christian Writers (circulation 700) - top prize: £25 book voucher - CLOSED, but they still run the odd one-off comp
Battered Moons Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVariesVaries£5£700Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Battered Moons Poetry Pamphlet - run as part of the Poetry Swindon Festival - usually closes around May/June/July - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2020
Bournemouth Writing Festival's Poetry CompetitionUK29th February 2024April 202430 lines£5See notesAny style but themed, so check website for full details - up to forty winners receive publication in an anthology and will be offered the chance to submit a collection of their work to publishers, Dithering Chaps - also open to flash fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off
Budleigh Salterton Literary Festival Poetry CompetitionUK31st July 2017September600 wordsFREE£1,000Any style or genre but competition is themed, so check website for details - CLOSED, was a one-off
Caerphilly Scribes Free Verse CompetitionWalesBi-AnnuallyBi-Annually30 lines£5£100Any style, subject or theme, but no purple prose or schmaltz - winners published in Caerphilly Scribes Poetry Collection - each entry receives a short commentary from the judges - CLOSED 2016
Cafe Aphra Poem of the MonthUKVariesVaries25 linesFREENoneAny style / genre - they feature at least one new poem on the first Monday of every month - always open to submissions - CLOSED 2019
Cariad Marketing Living Well Poetry CompetitionUK30th September 20196th December 201930 lines£5£100Any style, subject but themed around 'living well' - winning and shortlisted poems will be printed in ‘Living Well Poetry’ which will be sold in aid of the Isabel Hospice - winner and finalists receive a copy of the book and be invited to read their work at an awards evening - CLOSED, was a one-off
Charroux Poetry PrizeFranceAugustOctober40 lines£5£200Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on website - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2022 update
Classical Association Poetry CompetitionUK5th April 2024May-241,000 wordsFREE£200Any style, subject or theme - two categories: Original and Translation - they also have three different age categories: Junior (aged 11 and under), Senior (aged 12 to 18) and Open (aged 19 and above) - £200 top prize in each category with a total prize pot of £1,500 - CLOSED, was a one-off
Clochoderick Poetry CompetitionUKJanuaryMarch35 lines£5£500Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Clochoderick bi-annual literary journal - WEBSITE NOT updated in ages and social media profiles gone, so removed listing 2019
Cozy Cat Press Poetry ContestUSA1st July 20191st August 20192 pagesFREE$100Any style or subject but themed so check website for full details - CLOSED, was a one-off
Craigleigh Press Poetry ContestCanada30th April 2016?40 lines$5$50Any or subject but the theme - 3 categories: A. Free Verse, B. Traditional Verse, C. Haiku - CLOSED, was a one-off
Creagan Writers Circle 'The Layer Deeper' Poetry ContestN. Ireland, UKJulyAutumn40 linesFREE£250Any style / genre, but for poems inspired by ancient Sanskrit texts and the work of Seamus Heaney so check website for full details - run in two rounds, second round is for poems of 70 lines max, again see website for full details - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2021
Creative Future Spotlight Books CompetitionUK24th February 20191st April 201940-45pp. at 20 lines per pageFREESee notesAny style or genre except erotica or children's - open to writers from under-represented backgrounds (those who face barriers due to mental health, disability, identity or social circumstance) so see website for full guidelines - six writers will begiven 1:1 editorial support to shape their manuscripts and will be published in individual small books with international distribution - CLOSED, was a one-off
Creative Writing Life CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly38 linesFREE£20Any style / genre - winner's published in CWL magazine - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2020
Crooked Quill Magazine Poetry CompetitionEngland15th February 2015March20 linesFREE£20Any or subject but the theme is 'beginnings and time' - 1st prize is a £20 Amazon voucher - winners published in The Crooked Quill literary magazine -CLOSED, was a one-off
Crowvus Poetry PrizeUKMarchApril50 lines£3See notesAny style, subject but themed or inspired by pictures, so see website for full details - 25 shortlisted poems published in an anthology - top prize is 40% of the total entry fees - they run short story comps too - NO LONGER MENTIONED on website, so removed listing 2019
Cyberworld Publishing 'The Good Life in Galicia' CompetitionGalicia, SpainAugustVaries60 linesFREE€ 15Any style, subject or theme but must be about Galicia in a significant way - winners published in anthology - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
Dandy Writers' Writing ContestsUSAMonthlyMonthlyVariesVariesVariesAny style, subject or theme - they run a variety of regular contests for short stories, flash fiction, non-fiction, poetry and more, so check website for full details - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
David Burland Poetry PrizeUKJulyAugust40 lines£8£200Any style, subject or theme - winners published in anthology Poetic Art / L’Art Poétique - didn't run in 2018, but plan to run 2019, so check website for updates - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing 2020
Ekphrastic Review 'Bird Watching' Poetry and Flash Fiction ContestCanada1st May 20211st June 20211,000 words$10$100Themed: entry $10 CAD for ebook of prompts (poems must be sparked by one of the artworks in the ebook) - selected works published on website, one winner announced from each category - also open to flash fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off
Enchanted Forest Publishing Love Comes Quickly Poetry CompetitionUK31st March 202116th June 2021500 words£5£10Any style but theme is love - winners published in anthology and receive a free eBook copy - CLOSED, was a one-off
Enizagam Literary Contest for PoetryUSAVariesVaries10 pages$20$1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published in and receive 2 free copies of Enizagam Journal, winners also nominated for Pushcart Prize - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED SINCE MARCH 2019, so removed listing during 2021 update
Europe Tutorial Academy 'Poetry for Our Times'Germany30th June 2021July 2021Two pages maxFREESee notesFor collections of one to three poems on the theme of Poetry for Our Times - entrants must be aged bewteen 16 and 19 - winners published on website and receive a 1 year subscription to Poetry Magazine (Poetry Foundation) and a Poetry Book Society Gift Card for £50 - CLOSED, was a one-off
Fire River Poets Open Poetry CompetitionUKOctoberJanuary40 lines£4£200Any style, subject or theme - winners invited to take part in a reading event held in Taunton- WESBITE DISAPPEARED 2017
First Writer International Poetry CompetitionEnglandOctober?30 lines£3£200Any style, subject or theme - winners published in First Writer Magazine - CLOSED 2016 after running for 15 years
Five Aspects Poetry CompetitionUKDecemberFebruary40 lines£4£150Any style or subject bu themed, so check website for current details - many cash prizes, including awards for younger writers - all winners invited to attend workshops with young people, to share their creative processes - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019
Fly on the Wall Press 'Planet in Peril' Poetry, Photography and Art CompetitionUK28th April 2019MaySee notesSee notes£50Any style or subject - no max, but 40 lines recommended - entry: adult £5, student £3, free sponsored entries for anyone under 18 or unwaged - winners published in the anthology Planet in Peril which will support charity - CLOSED, was a one-off
Fun Palaces: WriteScience Poem CompetitionUKJulySeptember250FREESee notesAny style / genre but themed around science - open to residents of the UK only - winners published on website and performed at reading events - competition is judged by a very prestigious panel - they also accept short stories - NOT RUN SINCE 2016, so removed from lists Jan 2018
Geraldine Taylor's 'Words of Inspiration' Poetry ContestUKQuarterlyQuarterly40 lines£4.99£250Any style / subject but themed around inspiration - winners published on website and in Creative Collective Anthology Series - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing Jan 2018
Girton College Jane Martin Poetry PrizeUKVariesVariesVariesFREEVariesAny style, subject or theme - for those aged between 18 and 30 years of age, living in the UK - no dedictaed competition page, so look in the 'events' section of their website to find details of the current competition - top prize has been up to £700 in the past - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2023 update
Giving Them Wings PrizeSouth AfricaBi-AnnualBi-Annual30 lines$3$400Any style, subject or theme - winners featured in anthology - they also accept short stories - to find details of the competition, go to the 'Donate' section of their website - PRIZE NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2022 update
Graffiti Writing Magazine Poetry CompetitionUKBi-AnnualBi-AnnualVaries£4£100Any style or subject but themes vary - winners published in Graffiti Magazine - they don't have a website, so I have linked to their Facebook page where you can find details of how to enter - they also run a prose competition - NOT PUBLISHED SINCE 2021, so removed listing during 2023 update
Grindstone International Poetry PrizeUKAugustNovember40 lines£10£500Any style / subject or theme - every entrant receives editorial feedback - all shortlisted poets published in Grindstone's year-end anthology and they also receive an invite to participate in the Atmos Collections - POETRY COMP NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2021 update - they do still run prose comps
Grindstone Poetry CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly40 linesVariesVariesAny style / subject but themed, so check website for current details - winners published on website CLOSED, replaced by annual competition - see lists above
Gulf Stream Summer ContestUSAAugustSeptember5 poems$7$100Any style / subject or theme - winners published in Gulf Stream Lit Mag - also accept fiction and non-fiction - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2023 update
Hertford Museum's Love Hertford Poetry & Flash Fiction CompetitionUK19th June 20235th October 202330 lines£5£100Any style / genre - winners published in the Love Hertford book, sold in aid of the Museum - shortlisted writers receive a copy of the book and are invited to read their work at an awards evening - also open to flash fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off
Horse Rider Poetry International Poetry CompetitionRepublic of SerbiaVariesVaries26 lines$8VariesAny style, subject or theme - prizes vary from cash to cameras to T-shirts and more - winners published in printed anthology and receive a free copy - run on Facebook rather than a website, so link takes you to their FB page - PAGE INACTIVE, so removed listing during 2020 update
Hourglass Literary Magazine Best Poem AwardBosniaAprilSeptember3,500 words$15$1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Hourglass Literary Magazine - entry fee covers up to 3 poems - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing 2019
Humanaagerie Anthology from Eibonvale PressUK31st May 2018September60 linesFREE£5For 'liminal' work; pieces that would be classed as 'Slipstream'; work that has a speculative or surreal element - edited by Sarah Doyle and Allen Ashley - selected works will be published in the Humanaagerie anthology CLOSED, was a one-off
Iceland Writers Retreat Writing ContestIcelandVariesVariesVariesFREESee notesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for current theme - prize is usually a place on a writing retreat - comps are sometimes for fiction, sometimes poetry and sometimes non-fiction - look at 'News & Events' at bottom or homepage or in 'About IWR' section of website then 'News' to find latest competition details - CONTEST NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2022 update
Inexsilio (The Exiles) - The Lost Country Poetry CompetitionUSAVariesVaries150 lines*FREE$50Any style, subject or theme - winners published in The Lost Country Journal - sometimes run annually, sometimes bi-annually - 150 lines is a soft limit, if the editors receive an excellent 200 line poem (for example), they will consider publishing it - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED FOR 2 YEARS, so removed from lists 2018
Info 4 Writers Poetry CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly125 linesFREE£15Any style / genre but themed so check website for current details - winners published on website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED during 2018, removed from lists 2019
Into the Void Poetry CompetitionCanadaVariesVaries60 lines$6$500Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website - founded in Ireland, moved to Canada in 2017 - NOT RUN IN 3 YEARS, so removed listing during 2021 update
Irish Arts & Writers Festival Writing CompetitionUSASeptemberOctober50 lines$10$600Any style / genre - winners published on website - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019
La Piccioletta Barca CompetitionUKSeptemberOctoberNo limit$10$400Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - also open to short stories - winners published in competition issue of the La Piccioletta Barca journal - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2022 update
Legacy of Love Celebrating Animals and Nature Poetry CompetitionUK31st July 202120th August 202140 lines£8See notesAny style, subject or theme - prize is publication in a coffee style book called Legacy of Love alongside poems by Virginia Mckenna and Pam Ayres - winners also receive a copy of the book (worth £40) - look in the Poetry section of the website to find the competition details - CLOSED, was a one-off
Letter Review Prize for PoetryAustralia31st October 2022December 202270 lines$20$1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Letter Review - longlisted poets will have the opportunity to discuss publication too - CLOSED, was a one-off
Lichfield Cathedral Poetry Competition, 'The Word'UKOctoberNovember24 linesFREE£100Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - to find the competition page, go to the 'What's On' section of the website in the main navigation - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2021 update
Link Age Southwark Writing CompetitionUK31st August 2018October40 linesSee notes£200Any style or subject but themed, so check website for details - free entry for ages 11 to 17, £5 for adults - winners published on blog and invited to award ceremony in London CLOSED, was a one-off
Littoral Press Nature Poetry Collection CompetitionUKNovemberFebruary50 page min / 100 page max£20See notesAny style, subject or theme - winner's collection published in print - winner receives 50 copies of their book - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2022 update
Lord Whisky Animal Sanctuary Poetry CompetitionUKMayAugust40 lines£530% of total entry feesAny style or subject but themed, so check website for details - top prize is usually around £250 - 50% of entry fees will be used for the care of the animals at the sanctuary - to find competition details, go to the 'News and Events' section of the website - CLOSED 2024, but may reopen at a later date
Magic Oxygen Poetry PrizeUKDecemberFebruary50 lines£5£1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners publsihed in anthology - CLOSED 2019
MK LitFest Green Spaces in the City: Flash Fiction and Poetry CompetitionUK10th February 202317th March 2023500 wordsFREE£25Any style / genre but themed around green spaces in cities - two age categories: 14–19 and over 20 - winning stories will be published as a printed magazine and e-book - CLOSED, was a one-off
MK LitFest Poetry CompetitionUK31st May 202031st August 202014 linesFREE£25Any style / genre but themed, so check website for details - entrants must live in Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire or Bedfordshire UK - two age categories: 14 to 19 and over 20 - also open to flash fiction - at least 20 poems and 20 stories published in anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off
Momaya Poetry CompetitionUK & USAOctoberNovember1,500 words£7£70 ($100)Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - winners published in the Momaya Poetry Review - CLOSED 2020
Mono Fiction 'Sanity' Poetry CompetitionUK1st September 2021September40 lines£6£250Any style, subject or theme - winners published in April edition of Mono - CLOSED, was a one-off
MONO. Poetry PrizeUKAugustSeptember14 lines£6£650Any style, subject or theme - first prize winner published in Mono's journal, 3 x highly commended published on the blog - winners will be entered into next year's Forward Prize, which is not open to general submissions - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2024
Newcastle Univerity International Poetry PrizeUKVariesVaries40 linesVaries£1,000Any style, subject or theme - large cash prizes for 2nd and 3rd place winners - prizewinners invited to award ceremony at Newcastle Poetry Festival - NOT RUN SINCE 2017, so removed listing 2019
Nothing in the Rulebook's 'Haikus for the NHS'UK20th February 201728th February 2017HaikuFREE£25Any style or subject but the theme is the UK's National Health Service and the tradition of poetry as protest - long and shortlisted haikus published on website - winning haikus will also be printed and distributed at NHS demonstration in London on 4 March - CLOSED, was a one-off
Nowhere.Ink's $100 Weekly Writing ContestUSAWeeklyWeekly500 words$2$100Any style / subject but themed, so check website for current details - winner published on website - winner also receives a copy of The Literary Hack, a quarterly magazine, and considered for publication in mag - WEBSITE not updated since June 2018, so removed listing 2019
Overton Poetry PrizeUKVariesVaries300 lines£12See notesAny style, subject or theme - run through Loughborough University in memory of professor Bill Overton - first place published in chapbook, runners up receive book tokens - NOT RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update
Oxford Canal Festival Poetry Competition: “the ways of water”UK7th July 2024September 202440 lines£5£100Theme: "the ways of water" - winner also receives a 1-hour editing and feedback session with multi-award-winning poet and editor Vanessa Lampert - winners invited to read at the Oxford Canal Festival, September 21st 2024 - winning poems published on the Oxford Canal Heritage website - CLOSED, was a one-off
Oxford Festival of the Arts Poetry LiveUKVariesVariesno max statedFREESee notesAny style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - no permanent link, so go to the 'Become a Sponsor' section of the website and look in the 'Participation Projects' section - deadline for subs is usually around April / May - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2021 update
Pangolin Review Poetry PrizeMauritiusVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style / subject or theme - winners published in a special Winners’ Corner - top prize has been up to $400 in the past - NOT RUN SINCE 2019, so removed listing during 2022 update
Parkinson's Art Charity Poetry CompetitionUKOctober?40 lines£8£500Any style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - proceeds go to Parkinson's research - competition details can be found under 'events' on the homepage - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2022 update
Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society - William Wisdom Creative Writing CompetitionUSAMaySeptember750 wordsVariesSee notesAny style, subject or theme - winners might be published - top prize has been up to $1,000 in past but does vary - entry fee usually between $15 and $25 - sometimes run a poetry collection prize too - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2022
Poetic Republic Poetry CompetitionEnglandApril?42 lines£7£2,000Any style, subject or theme - participants read each other's work and effectively judge the competition, see link for details - winners and published in eBook containing 48 poems and most interesting comments from website - NOT RUN SINCE 2015, so removed listing Jan 2018
Poetry Book Society Poetry PrizesUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style, subject or theme - winners published on website - free entry to club members - check prizes section of the website for current prize on offer - PRIZE SECTION NO LONGER ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2021 update
Poetry on the Lake Haiku CompetitionItaly31st May 202315th July 2023no max€ 4€ 100Any style, subject or theme - one entry can include up to 5 haiku - up to 10 winners published in HQ Poetry Magazine (if author gives permission), edited by Kevin Bailey who is also the judge - CLOSED, was a one-off
Poetry Pulse Annual Poetry CompetitionUKJuneAugust42 lines£5£300Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website and in Poetry Pulse Annual Review - they also run monthly comps - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020
Poets & Players Reemergence PrizeUK16th November 202018th December 202040 lines£2£300Any style but theme is REEMERGENCE (reemerge/reemerging) winning poet invited to read their poem at a Poets & Players event in 2021 (date to be confirmed) - CLOSED, was a one-off
Poets, Prattlers and Pandemonialists (PPP) Poetry CompetitionUK30th June 202331st July 202340 lines£3£300Any style, subject or theme - winners might be published on their website - CLOSED, was a one-off
Prole Poetry Pamphlet CompetitionUKVariesVariesno max stated£12VariesAny style, subject or theme - top prize has been up to £400 in the past - in addition to cash, winner also receives 25 copies of their book which will be sold through Prole’s website - copies of the book will be sent out for review - they also run a poetry comp for single poems with a prize that has been up to £300 in the past - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2023
Published Fantasy Authors Poetry/Song CompetitionUSA20th December 201920th February 202040 linesFREE$250This competition is a unique opportunity to have your literary work set to music and released on a professional album, including a cash prize and a royalty arrangement - open to published authors in the fantasy genre, whose works include original song lyrics - CLOSED, was a one-off
Radix Media Own Voices Chapbook PrizeUSAVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesCompetition is different each year - top prize has been up to $500 in the past - the link takes you to the 'Blog' section of their website, where you can usually find the current competition details - NOT RUN SINCE 2020, so removed listing during 2022 update
READ Foundation Writing CompetitionUK10th October 201813th October 2018500FREESee notesAny style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - winner publicly displayed across hundreds of schools and read by tens of thousands of children, plus feedback from writer Qaisra Shahraz - also accept flash fiction and non-fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off
Renard Press New Beginnings Poetry CompetitionUK21st May 2021 (Diversity Day)25th June 2021100 lines / 750 wordsFREE£200Any style, subject or theme - winners published in anthology due to be released in September - CLOSED, was a one-off
Renard Press - Spectrum: Poetry Celebrating IdentityUK21st May 2022?100 lines / 750 wordsFREE£200Any style, subject or theme - winners published in anthology due to be released in October - CLOSED, was a one-off
Segora Poetry CompetitionUKJuneJuly50 lines£5£300Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website - CLOSED 2022
Sentinel Annual Poetry CompetitionEnglandJanuaryMarch60 lines£5£700Any style, subject or theme - winners pubished in anthology - lots of runner-up cash prizes - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED SINCE 2015, so listing removed 2017
Sentinel Literary Poetry CompetitionUKQuarterlyQuarterly50 lines£5£250Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Sentinel Literary Magazine - CLOSED, website disappeared 2023
Sin Young Park's Call for Poem for Choral PieceUSA26th March 2022April 202232 linesFREE$150Any style, subject but theme should be related to women, justice, human rights, empowerment, social issues, or similar - poems must be less than 10 words per line - Sin is a composer looking for a poem to be the cornerstone of a choral piece, which will be premiered by a respectable choral ensemble next spring in Boston, MA, USA - send entries to: happymarienjohn@gmail.com - CLOSED, was a one-off
Soldier's Arts Academy International Poetry CompetitionUKSeptemberOctober40 linesSee notes£50Any style, subject or theme but entrants must have some connection with the military - 2 categories: adults and young people aged 12 to 17 - adult entry fee £4, young people enter free - adult prize is cash plus poetry books, young people's prize is just poetry books - winners published on website - to find the competition details, look in the 'Projects' section of the website - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2022 update
South Warwickshire Literary Festival Creative Writing CompetitionUK30th June 202323rd September 202340 lines£3£50Any style, subject or theme - winner offered the chance to read their poem at the festival if they are able to attend - also open to fiction and non-fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off
Spilling Cocoa Over Martin Amis Humorous Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVariesno max statedFREESee notesAny style, subject or theme but dedicated to the serious art of writing funny poems - no monetary prize, but winners published on the website - NO NEW POSTS SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020
Stafford LitFest Writing CompetitionUKFebruaryMarch40 lines£5£50Any style / genre but themed, so check website for full details - prize paid in vouchers - also accept flash fiction and run children's comp for 11 to 15 year-olds with free entry and 3 x £10 voucher prizes - look in the 'Events/Blog' section of their website to find competition details - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2021
Streetcake Experimental Writing PrizeUK14th June 2019Summer 20193 x A4 pages£1See notesAny style or subject - two age bands (18-21 and 22-26) - winners receive personalised mentoring sessions - other prizes include personalised feedback and book bundles - winners published online and in a hardcopy anthology - CLOSED, was a one-off
Stroud Book Festival Poetry CompetitionUKSeptemberOctober40 lines£5£500Any style, subject or theme - winners announced at the festival - did not run in 2020 or 2021 due to pandemic, hopeing to launch again in 2022 - NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2023 update
Sydney Gardens Tree Weekender Writing CompetitionUK1st November 2021November 2021250FREE£50 book tokenAny style or genre but themed around trees in parks and public gardens - winners published on website and as geo-located audio stories located in Bath, UK, and within Sydney Gardens - lots of other perks, so check website for more details - they also accept flash fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off
Thapasvi Manoharam Publications ContestIndia1st September 2022September 202225 linesFREE₹500Any style or subject, but themed, so check website for full details - they accept entries in English - site is not presented in English, so use Google Translate to view it - they also accept short stories, up to 1,500 words - CLOSED, was a one-off
The Enfield Poets’ Poetry CompetitionUK7th March 2020by 31st March 202050 lines£4£500Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website and invited to read their poems at prize giving ceremony - CLOSED, was a one-off
The Plough Poetry PrizeUKVariesVaries40 lines£5£1,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website - WEBISTE DISAPPEARED 2020
The University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor's International Poetry PrizeAustraliaJuneOctober50 lines$25$15,000Any style, subject or theme - winners published in the annual Prize Anthology in print and online, for which every contributor is paid $50 - PRIZE NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing during 2022 update
The Woolf Poetry CompetitionSwitzerlandSeptemberDecember500 words10 CHF150 CHFAny style or subject but themed, so check website for current details - 150 CHF is about £115 or $150 - three winning poems published in The Woolf - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020
These Fragile Lilacs 2018 Chapbook CompetitionUSA1st April 201814th April 201816 pages$12$100Any style or subject - winner also receives 20 free printed copies of their chapbook - good prizes for 2nd and 3rd place entries too - CLOSED was a one off
Thinkerbeat 'Reels' and 'Spinners' AwardsUSABi-AnnuallyBi-AnnuallyVariesFREE$25For song lyrics and animations (poets encouraged to enter, hence it's listed here) - winning lyrics will be recorded as a song, and winning scripts annimated - CLOSED 2015
Those That Breathe Environmental Writing CompetitionUKMonthly during 2021Monthly during 2021Varies£4See notesAny style or subject, but themed so check website for details - the competition is open from the 1st until the 25th of each month during 2021 - proceeds from entry fees are donated to charities that are trying to make a difference to climate change - winners published on website and in anthology in 2022 - open to poetry, short stories, flash fiction and non-fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off
Torbay Festival of Poetry Open Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVariesVariesVariesVariesAny style, subject or theme - winner also receives free weekend pass for the poetry festival including accommodation - check 'competitions' section of the website for current details as it seems to change every year - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019
Torriano Poetry CompetitionEnglandJanuaryMarch40 lines£3£250Any style, subject or theme - Winning poets will be offered featured readings at prize-giving ceremony in April - CONTEST NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so listing removed 2017
Urban Tree Festival Poetry CompetitionUK / BelgiumMarchMay250 words€ 6€ 200Any style or subject but themed, so check website for details - winner becomes writer in residence for the next Urban Tree festival - winners published in illustrated anthology and each author included receives complementary copies - also accept flash fiction and non-fiction - CLOSED 2024
Vênoor Living - Poetry in Design AwardUK31st August 20189th September 201825 linesFREE£50Any style or subject but themed, so check website for details - winner receives cash and vouchers - CLOSED, was a one-off
Victorina Press Poetry ContestUKFebruary?40 lines£5£500Any style or subject but themed so check website for current details - doesn't always run every year, but is an ongoing contest - run in collaboration with Voces-Voices Festival - winners published by Victorina Press - entries accepted in English, Spanish or Spanglish - CLOSED 2024
Voice of the Poet, AfricaNigeriaNovemberNovember200 wordsFREENone listedAny style, subject or theme - winners published in anthology and online - for African poets only, see website for full definition - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2019
Walk Listen Create's 'Write About Walking and Listening' CompetitionBelgium8th August 2021September250€ 6See notesAny style or genre but themed about walking and listening - open to poetry and prose - winner becomes Writer in Residence for Walk Listen Create's Sound Walk in September 2022 - winning stories are published in a limited edition illustrated anthology by Sampson Low Publishers, and made available as an audio book - CLOSED, was a one-off
Walk Listen Create Poetry and Prose Writing Competition "Write About Walking Home"UK31st January 2022April / September 2022250 words€ 6See notesAny style or subject, but theme is "walking home" - shortlisted writers will be included in an illustrated limited edition chapbook - top prize: Writer in Residence for Walk Listen Create 2022/3, silver membership worth €50, bespoke artwork by Alban Low - they also accept flash fiction - CLOSED, was a one-off
Wanton Fuckery Poetry CompetitionUKVariesVaries1 pageFREESee notesAny style or subject but themed, so check website for details - winner receives a packet of Hobnobs and a drawing - winners published on website - WEBSITE NOT UPDATED since 2018, so removed listing 2019 side not... I designed their logo for them - I received a packet of hobnobs as payment
Wenlock Poetry Festival Children & Young People's Poetry CompetitionUKMarchApril???Any style or subject but themed so check website for current details - winners published on website - 3 age groups; under 6, 7 to 9 and 10 to 12 - NO LONGER mentioned on website, so removed listing 2019
Wenlock Poetry Festival CompetitionUKVariesVaries40 lines£5£500Any style, subject or theme - winners published on website and invited to perform their poems at the festival - NO LONGER mentioned on website, so removed listing 2019
Woven Tale Press Poetry CompetitionUSA15th September 2018October 20185 poems$25See notesAny style, subject or theme - top prize is a week long writing retreat in the Hamptons, NY - cash prizes for runners up - winners published in Woven Tale Press magazine CLOSED, was a one-off
Writers' Forum Poetry CompetitionUKMonthlyMonthly40 lines£7£100Any style, subject or theme - winners published in Writers' Forum magazine - CLOSED 2023
Writing Maps A3 Review Poetry ContestUKMonthlyMonthly150 words$5£250Any style, subject or theme - each month, two entries win publication in the magazine - three overall winning entries receive cash prizes - COMPETITION NO LONGER MENTIONED ON WEBSITE, so removed listing 2020
Writing Times Poetry CompetitionUKDecemberMarch80 lines£3£50Any style, subject but themed, so check website for current theme - winners published in the Writing Times along with an author feature - WEBSITE DISAPPEARED 2017
Wundor Editions Poetry ContestUKVariesVariesno max stated£5£500Any style or subject - no line limit on poems - winner strongly considered for print publication - usually runs once a year, but dates change and they sometimes run photography competitions too - NOT RUN SINCE 2018, so removed listing 2020
Year of Listening CompetitionScotland28th October 201611th November 201640 linesFREESee notesAny style or genre but themed around 'What does listening mean to you?' - top prize is an MP3 player - winner is published on the website and in printed publications - CLOSED, was a one-off

More Writing Competition Lists

I hope you found this poetry competitions list helpful. You can find lots of other writing contest lists and other publishing opportunities by looking at the main writing competitions page, which contains links to all the resources on that topic.

More Writing Advice

I hope you found this "Poetry Competitions" page helpful. You can find lots of other publication opportunities and writing tips in the Advice section of this website.

Comments

 

Christopher Fielden Est 2011

This website was established in 2011. In 2024, it was redesigned. Between 2011 and 2024, thousands of people left comments. I’d like to thank every person for their engagement – it’s greatly appreciated.

When the website was rebuilt, transferring comments comprising hundreds of thousands of words was not feasible. I may re-publish the old Poetry Competitions page comments here at some point. In the meantime, new comments can be left below.

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