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Free Poetry Contests

Enter free poetry contests for 2018 (some for money or cash) are managed by PoetrySoup poet Premium Members. Poetry contests are held every week. Any poet can enter and all competitions are free. Enter as many contests as you want. You keep copyrights on all of your poems. Some poetry contests even have prizes! Go to the contests you can enter...

Submission Guidelines for Poetry Contests

  1. Submit your poems to PoetrySoup using the Submit Poems link at the top of any PoetrySoup page
  2. Return to the poetry contest page
  3. Select a contest to enter and then click the Enter Contest button associated with the poetry contest you want to enter.
  4. Select your poem to enter by clicking the Enter Contest button (You may need to scroll see more of your poems).
  • Entrant’s name, address, e-mail and phone number must not appear on the poems.
  • Do not identify yourself on your contest entries.
  • The poet’s name should not appear anywhere in the poem field.

How to Win a Poetry Contest

  • Study the past winners of a contest sponsored by that member
  • Prior to entering a contest, have your poem critiqued in the High Critique Forum
  • Objectively and critically review your poem
  • Enter a lot of contests. Hey, the more contests you enter, the better chance you have of winning one.

Other Contest Links

The contests are below...


Poetry Contests

Jump to a contest:

Is a Premiere Poetry Contest Premiere Contests

  • Stricter guidelines for contest sponsors as determined by PoetrySoup
  • One poem per place in contest
  • 1st place winners will have a trophy next to their poem on the website

Standard Contest

  • Rules determined by contest sponsor
  • Number of winners and how they place are determined by contest sponsor
Is a Premiere Poetry ContestContest: Easter 2018
Enter Contest

Deadline: Saturday, April 28, 2018
31 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer

Is a Premiere Poetry ContestContest: Anonymous Angels
Enter Contest

Deadline: Monday, April 30, 2018
25 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Yazmin Malik

Is a Premiere Poetry ContestContest: SEAHORSES
Enter Contest

Deadline: Monday, May 14, 2018
15 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Julia Ward

Is a Premiere Poetry ContestContest: Tunnel Vision
Enter Contest

Deadline: Wednesday, May 16, 2018
19 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Kai Michael Neumann

Is a Premiere Poetry ContestContest: NEW POEMS ONLY - 2
Enter Contest

Deadline: Wednesday, May 16, 2018
25 poems of the maximum 60 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Emile Pinet

Is a Premiere Poetry ContestContest: Something Concrete
Enter Contest
Concrete poetry form only.

Deadline: Thursday, May 24, 2018
28 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Maureen McGreavy

Is a Premiere Poetry ContestContest: Word Vision Poetry II
Enter Contest

Deadline: Wednesday, June 20, 2018
26 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Vermillion Scythe

Contest: It's All About Four
Enter Contest

Deadline: Monday, April 30, 2018
27 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Broken Wings

Contest: Music pantoum
Enter Contest
Pantoum poetry form only.

Deadline: Wednesday, May 2, 2018
23 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Silent One

Contest: WHAT DO WE HAVE IN COMMON
Enter Contest
Rhyme poetry form only.

Deadline: Wednesday, May 2, 2018
13 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Kim Rodrigues

Contest: CHANGING THE MIND'S DIAPER
Enter Contest

Deadline: Friday, May 4, 2018
26 poems of the maximum 40 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: John lawless

Contest: Rhyme Time 2
Enter Contest
Rhyme poetry form only.

Deadline: Saturday, May 5, 2018
33 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Laura Loo

Contest: So You Think You Can Rhyme - for non PM poets
Enter Contest
Rhyme poetry form only.

Deadline: Friday, May 11, 2018
13 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: FJ Thomas

Contest: One nine and sixteen
Enter Contest

Deadline: Sunday, May 13, 2018
21 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Viv Wigley

Contest: Hillbillies, Bybillies, and Blowbilllies.
Enter Contest

Deadline: Tuesday, May 15, 2018
17 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Caren Krutsinger

Contest: Sijo
Enter Contest
Sijo poetry form only.

Deadline: Wednesday, May 16, 2018
21 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Deborah Guenther Beachboard

Contest: ANY RHYME FORM - AN EARLY CHILDHOOD MEMORY
Enter Contest

Deadline: Saturday, May 19, 2018
22 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Line Gauthier

Contest: Your Best Single Limerick - 5 lines only
Enter Contest
Limerick poetry form only.

Deadline: Sunday, May 20, 2018
27 poems of the maximum 40 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Robert Haigh

Contest: LORD, I PANTOUM YOU
Enter Contest
Pantoum poetry form only.

Deadline: Sunday, May 20, 2018
0 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: James Edward Lee Sr.

Contest: Spring
Enter Contest
Free verse poetry form only.

Deadline: Monday, May 21, 2018
6 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: craig cornish

Contest: Twin Flame Separation
Enter Contest

Deadline: Monday, May 21, 2018
6 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Madison Demetros

Contest: Sign of the times
Enter Contest
Acrostic poetry form only.

Deadline: Monday, May 21, 2018
3 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: John Hamilton

Contest: LATE APRIL STANDARD CONTEST,ANY FORM OR NONE,ANY THEME,UPTO AVMAX OF 20 lines
Enter Contest

Deadline: Tuesday, May 22, 2018
11 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Brian Strand