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DIRECTORY

Best Poetry Writing Contests in 2025

Showing 159 contests that match your search.

The Bedford Competition

The Bedford Competition

Genres: Poetry and Short Story

The Bedford Competition runs annual international short story and poetry competitions open to anyone over 17 years. Winning entries are published in an anthology.

Top Prize:

£2000

Additional prizes:

2nd Prize £300 | 3rd Prize £200 | Cygnature Prizes £200 | Bedford Prizes £100

💰 Entry fee: $11

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025

GWG Literary Prize 2025

Geneva Writers Group

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The GWG Literary Prize 2025 invites writers to explore hope and resilience through candid writing. Categories include fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry, all reflecting the theme of hope.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

1st: 100CHF, 2nd: 50CHF, 3rd: 25CHF. Each winner and runner-up also receives 1 free workshop each.

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: March 03, 2025 (Expired)

2024 International Literary Prize

Hammond House Publishing

Genres: Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story

The 2024 International Literary Prize invites writers to submit entries in four categories: Short Stories, Poetry, Scriptwriting, and Songwriting. The contest emphasizes anonymity in submissions and offers cash prizes, publication opportunities, and feedback options.

Top Prize:

1st prize for Short Story and Poetry: £1000 1st prize for Scriptwriting: £500 1st prize for Song writing: £250

Additional prizes:

2nd and 3rd prizes for all categories: £100 and £50 respectively, along with publication for all shortlisted entries.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024 (Expired)

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Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

Enter our 91st Annual Writing Competition for the chance to have your work be seen by editors and agents! Almost 500 winners will be chosen. The top winning entries of this writing contest will also be on display in the Annual Writer’s Digest Competition Collection. [$20 for a poetry entry, $30 for a manuscript entry]

Top Prize:

$5,000

Additional prizes:

Grand prize winner receives $5000. In each category: 1st, $1000; 2nd, $500; 3rd, $250; 4th, $100; 5th, $50; 6th through 10th, $25 gift certificate. 1st place winners receive a one year subscription to Writer's Digest magazine + tutorials.

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: May 05, 2025 (Expired)

Bacopa Literary Review Annual Writing Contest

Writers Alliance of Gainesville

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Bacopa Literary Review is an annual international print journal seeking engaging and original submissions across multiple genres. The contest includes various categories with specific guidelines to encourage diverse forms of writing.

Top Prize:

$200

Additional prizes:

$100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories

💰 Entry fee: $3

📅 Deadline: June 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Essay, Fantasy, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Thriller, and Young Adult

The competition is open for submissions themed 'The Evolution of Love'. Each entry will be edited, judged based on various writing criteria, and selected works will be published in an anthology.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

2nd: $250 | 3rd: $150

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: March 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

Write a 2-4-2 syllable poem: 2 syllables in the first line, 4 in the second, 2 in the last. Subject can be anything. Winner receives feedback and a cash prize.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Feedback for all submissions.

📅 Deadline: September 18, 2025 (Expired)

Joy Bale Boone Poetry Prize

The Heartland Review Press

Genres: Poetry

The contest honors the legacy of Joy Bale Boone, an influential American poet and activist. All entries must be original works in English, with a submission window from July 1 to October 1, 2025, for publication in Spring 2026. The winners will be announced before Christmas 2025.

Top Prize:

$400 gift card

Additional prizes:

2nd: $240 gift card | 3rd: $100 gift card

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: October 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Fiction, Flash Fiction, and Poetry

The Hayden's Ferry Review Fiction & Poetry Contest accepts submissions of poetry and fiction. Winners receive cash prizes and publication. The judges for 2025 are Gwen Kirby for fiction and Hieu Minh Nguyen for poetry.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Winner also receives publication in Hayden's Ferry Review. Runner-up receives $250 and publication.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry

Lynx House Press

Genres: Poetry

The Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry is awarded for an unpublished, full-length volume of poems by a U.S. author, along with foreign nationals living and writing in the U.S. and U.S. citizens abroad. The prize includes $2000 and publication.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $28

📅 Deadline: June 16, 2024 (Expired)

4th Annual Wine Country Writers' Festival Writing Contest

Wine Country Writers' Festival Society

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The contest is open to writers over 18 worldwide and includes categories for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Each submission must adhere to specific formatting guidelines and word limits. Winners are selected through blind judging, and results are announced during the festival.

Top Prize:

$200 CAD per category

Additional prizes:

Second place: $100 Third place: $50 Winner also gets anthology publication, entry to next year's festival

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Poetry.com Contest is a monthly poetry competition aiming to support and encourage poets of all backgrounds. Participants can submit original poems for a chance to win cash prizes and gain recognition. Voting is conducted by contestants, adding a unique twist to the judging process.

Top Prize:

$500

Additional prizes:

2nd Place: $300 | 3rd Place: $200 | Five runners-up receive a personalized mug and a chance to compete for Poem of the Year.

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Letter Review Prize for Poetry is a competitive opportunity for poets, offering a prize pool every three months. It promotes diverse poetic expression, with no restrictions on subject or style. Winners are published and considered for prestigious anthologies.

Top Prize:

$1000 USD shared by 2 to 4 winners

Additional prizes:

Publication by The Letter Review. Up to 20 writers are shortlisted.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: October 01, 2025 (Expired)

Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize

University of Pittsburgh Press

Genres: Poetry

The Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize, established in 1981, is awarded for a first full-length book of poems. The prize includes a cash award and publication as part of the Pitt Poetry Series.

Top Prize:

$5,000

Additional prizes:

Publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2025 (Expired)

Eyelands Book Awards

Strange Days Books

Genres: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Eyelands Book Awards are international awards aimed at recognizing talent among published and unpublished authors. The contest is based in Greece and encourages submissions across various literary genres.

Top Prize:

A five-day stay in Athens

Additional prizes:

Winner also receives translation into Greek and publication. Handmade ceramics for winners in each category.

💰 Entry fee: $45

📅 Deadline: October 20, 2025

Solar Flare Contest 2025

Sunspot Literary Journal

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Solar Flare Contest seeks submissions for a single short story, novel or novella excerpt, artwork, graphic novel, or poem that exhibits a burst of creative energy. All genres accepted, with a maximum word limit of 500 for stories and nonfiction, 12 lines for poetry, and 8 pages for graphic novels.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Publication for the winner; publication offered to runners-up and finalists.

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: June 01, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Hastings Book Festival Poetry Competition is an annual event inviting submissions from poets worldwide. The contest aims to celebrate new poetry and provides an opportunity for both established and emerging writers.

Top Prize:

£250

Additional prizes:

2nd: £100 | 3rd: £50 | Publication for winning poems. Winners may also be eligible for additional prizes like the Sussex Prize and Founder's Prize.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

Willow Run Poetry Book Award

Hidden River Press

Genres: Poetry

The Willow Run Poetry Book Award is an annual contest open to poets worldwide. The winner receives a monetary prize of $1,000 and publication by Hidden River Press. Entries should be unpublished collections of poetry, between 75 and 100 pages.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in Hidden River Press

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2025 (Expired)

Ambroggio Prize

Academy of American Poets

Genres: Poetry

The Ambroggio Prize is a $1,000 publication prize for a poetry manuscript originally in Spanish with an English translation. It honors American poets whose first language is Spanish and is awarded annually since 2017.

Top Prize:

$1,000

📅 Deadline: September 15, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The competition, run by The Poetry Society since 1978, is one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for a single unpublished poem. Judged by Stephen Sexton, Romalyn Ante, John McAuliffe. Open to all poets worldwide aged 18+.

Top Prize:

£5,000

Additional prizes:

Runners-up receive £2,000 and £1,000. Commended entries receive £500

💰 Entry fee: $8

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2025

Fish Poetry Prize

Fish Publishing

Genres: Poetry

The Fish Poetry Prize is an open competition judged by Billy Collins, offering significant monetary prizes and publication opportunities in the Fish Anthology 2025. It has been established since 2006, focusing on poems of any theme, restricted to 60 lines.

Top Prize:

€1000

Additional prizes:

2nd: writer's retreat | 3rd: €300

💰 Entry fee: $14

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2025 (Expired)

John Estey Student Writing Competition

American Writers Museum

Genres: Children's, Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The John Estey Student Writing Competition is open to elementary, middle, and high school students. To be considered for this award, please fill out the intent to participate form and submit a 1,000 word or less piece discussing the prompt quote, "It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”—Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness. Submissions are accepted via a submission link that is provided to teachers ONLY. Please make sure that you provide a valid teacher contact.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Three winners from each category will be awarded the following prizes: $500 for elementary school; $1000 for middle school; $2000 for high school.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: May 23, 2025 (Expired)

Annual Poetry Contest

Third Wednesday

Genres: Poetry

The Annual Poetry Contest accepts up to 3 previously unpublished poems of any style, with no length limit. Winning entries receive cash prizes and publication. Additionally, winners and honorable mentions get a print copy of the issue.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Winning poets receive a print copy of the contest issue.

💰 Entry fee: $6

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

Established in 1998, this award honors poet Benjamin Saltman and is for previously unpublished original poetry collections. The competition is open to all poets.

Top Prize:

$3,000

Additional prizes:

Book publication by Red Hen Press

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: November 01, 2025

Rhina Espaillat Poetry Award

Plough Publishing

Genres: Poetry

The award honors Dominican-American poet Rhina Espaillat. It is for an original poem of up to 50 lines, showcasing empathy and grace in everyday life.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Winning poem published in Plough Quarterly | Two finalists will receive $250

💰 Entry fee: $7

📅 Deadline: March 30, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The Muriel Craft Bailey Poetry Contest is an annual event that celebrates original poetry. It has been held since 1997 in memory of poet Muriel Craft Bailey. The contest is open for submissions from April 1 to July 15 each year, with guidelines updated periodically.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication by The Comstock Review

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024 (Expired)

Genres: Flash Fiction and Poetry

The contest invites submissions in visual art, poetry, and flash fiction. It aims to showcase innovative and authentic art while promoting diversity. Winners and runners-up will be featured on the website and in a Fall anthology.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Each category winner will receive $100 (USD). Winning submissions and two runners-up per category will be published in the Fall Anthology.

📅 Deadline: August 01, 2024 (Expired)

Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize

Academy of American Poets

Genres: Poetry

Established in 1975, this prize recognizes the most outstanding book of poetry published in the U.S. in the previous calendar year. It includes a $25,000 award, a residency at Glen Hollow, and distribution of the winning book to Academy members.

Top Prize:

$25,000

💰 Entry fee: $75

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2025 (Expired)

Genres: Poetry

The competition invites poets to submit works based on five given words each week over a 42-week period. It aims to encourage creativity and showcases poets' works in an anthology.

Top Prize:

$750

Additional prizes:

Second place: 500 euros Third place: 250 euros Travel fee and accommodation for winners attending the event. Physical award crafted by Michael Ray, plus opportunities for winners to read at events.

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: January 28, 2025 (Expired)

Geminga Contest 2025

Sunspot Lit

Genres: Non-fiction and Poetry

The Geminga Contest 2025 invites submissions of tiny fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, graphic novels, and art. Submissions should honor the power of brevity, with specific word limits for each category. Accepted works will be published in upcoming editions of Sunspot Lit.

Top Prize:

$100

Additional prizes:

Publication for the winner, with publication also offered to runners-up and finalists.

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

Poetry International Prize 2025

Poetry International

Genres: Poetry

The Poetry International Prize is an annual contest to award a cash prize of $1000 and publication for a single poem of any length. Submissions are accepted via Submittable and all entries are considered for publication.

Top Prize:

$1,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in Poetry International

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: September 06, 2025 (Expired)

Swamp Pink Prizes

Swamp Pink

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Swamp Pink Prizes celebrate excellence in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Each winner receives $2,000 and publication in an upcoming issue of Swamp Pink. The contest is open for submissions throughout January.

Top Prize:

$2,000

Additional prizes:

Publication in an upcoming issue of Swamp Pink

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

The Dark Poets Prize

Dark Poets Club

Genres: Poetry

The Dark Poets Prize is an international poetry competition inviting entries that explore beauty within darkness. The winner receives the title of International Dark Poets Prize IV Winner and a cash prize.

Top Prize:

£1000

Additional prizes:

1st place also receives Dark Poets Prize certification & a Dark Poets Club T-shirt.

💰 Entry fee: $6

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2025

Jane Martin Poetry Prize

Girton College, University of Cambridge

Genres: Poetry

The Jane Martin Poetry Prize is a national poetry competition established in 2010 in memory of Girton alumna Jane Elizabeth Martin. It aims to support young poets and promote literary excellence, judged by experts in the literary field.

Top Prize:

£1000

Additional prizes:

2nd place: £500 Opportunity to give a reading at Girton College.

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2025 (Expired)

The Paul Cave Prize for Literature

Tim Saunders Publications

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

Established in 2023, this contest is a platform for writers and poets to get their work published. Categories include various forms of poetry and fiction, excluding erotic work. Winners receive feedback and cash prizes, while all approved submissions will be included in the anthology.

Top Prize:

£200

Additional prizes:

Feedback from the publisher + a complimentary copy of the anthology

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2025 (Expired)

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