70th Annual Poetry Contest Opens July 15!

2026 POETRY CONTEST

Rules & Submission Guidelines below ↓

Submission period

July 15 – August 31, 2026

Basic Poetry Contest Entry Fee:

$12 for members, $15 for non-members

Poetry Contest Categories & Rules:

Contest Rules, Submission Guidelines & details listed below ↓

Contest Categories & Rules PDF

70th Annual Poetry Contest Opens July 15

Open to all. Cash prizes. Poets retain rights.

The Poets & Patrons Poetry Contest is open to members and non-members. Members receive a discount on entry fees, and non-members may become a member prior to submitting poems to receive the member rate.

Prizes

$50, $30, $20, plus three Honorable Mentions in each category.

Entry fees

$12 for members, $15 for non-members. This covers one poem per category. The fee is the same to enter one category or all 10 categories.

To enter more than one poem in a category, there is an additional fee:
• $1 per poem for Poets & Patrons member
• $3 per poem for non-members.

Notes:
• Limit of 3 poems per category.
• You may NOT enter the same poem in more than one category.
• Poets cannot be awarded or recognized more than once in any category.

To join Poets & Patrons visit our membership page ➞

Contest Rules, Submission Guidelines, Categories, and details below ↓

Rules & Submission Guidelines

Contest Rules

• Poems must not have been published elsewhere or be under consideration for publication elsewhere
• Poems must not have been posted online
• Poems must not have been created using artificial intelligence.
• Poems must not have won previous cash awards from Poets & Patrons.
• Poems need to be in English.
• You may NOT enter the same poem in more than one category.
• Limit of 3 poems per category.

Line Limits

• All poems (except Miniature poems) – 60 lines (counting epigraph, section numbers, and blank lines between stanzas, if any).
• Miniature poem line limit: 12 lines (including spaces between lines).
• Poems that exceed the line limits will not be considered.

Formatting and Preparing Poems for Submission

• DO NOT put your name or any other identification on each poem.
• File types accepted: Either a PDF or Word document.
• If the poem incorporates indents or special formatting, it’s best to submit a PDF to preserve all formatting.
• Use an easily readable font, including San Serif fonts such as Arial, Aptos, Calibri, and Helvetica and Serif fonts such Times, Garamond or Baskerville.
• Flush left the poem except for intended indents and other formatting.
• Please do not include imagery or photographs. If you are submitting an ekphrastic poem, you can include the name of the artwork that the poem was inspired by, as well as the artist.
• File name for each poem must include the category description and poem title as the document name (for example: Humorous—Dogs Gone Wrong)

Submission Guidelines

Email/Online only; no paper entries accepted. Submit 7/15 – 8/31.
Online submission form is at this link ➞

For Winning Poems – Rights, Prizes & Recognition

• Winning poets retain all rights.
• Winning poems will not be published.
• A list of winners’ names and their poem titles will be posted at the Poets & Patrons website after all winners have been notified.
• Winning poems receiving cash prizes may receive their payment by check, Venmo, Zelle, or PayPal.
• Online Contest Reading — All winning poets will be invited to participate in an online reading in the Fall.

Notes About Judging

All judging is done anonymously; judges are independent and not affiliated with Poets & Patrons. The decisions of judges are final.

Questions?

If you have any questions, feel free to email Poets & Patrons at poetsandpatrons@gmail.com or Maggie Kennedy, Contest Chair, at maggiev@ameritech.net.

Miniature
Judge: Marilyn Wolf

Nature
Judge: Sal Marici

Road Trip
Judge: John Hinton

Shoes
Judge: Jennifer Hernandez

Social Justice/
Social Conscience
Judge: Tom Moran