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Home » Poetry » Free Poetry Contests

Poetry Contests

Below are free poetry contests for 2017 (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...

How to Enter PoetrySoup 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
Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Thursday, August 24, 2017
34 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Debbie Guzzi

Is a Premiere Poetry ContestContest: Let It Be
Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Thursday, August 31, 2017
46 poems of the maximum 60 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Catie Lindsey

Is a Premiere Poetry ContestContest: Artwork
Enter Contest
Personification poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Sunday, September 3, 2017
18 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Lewis Raynes

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Tuesday, September 5, 2017
16 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Shadow Hamilton

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Sunday, September 17, 2017
16 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: craig cornish

Enter Contest
Rhyme poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Monday, September 18, 2017
23 poems of the maximum 36 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Kevin Shaw

Enter Contest
Ottava rima poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Tuesday, September 19, 2017
6 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Dale Gregory Cozart

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Friday, September 22, 2017
44 poems of the maximum 75 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Cyndi MacMillan

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Friday, September 22, 2017
12 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Brian Strand

Contest: Iconic songs
Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Sunday, August 27, 2017
19 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Silent One

Enter Contest
Sonnet poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Monday, August 28, 2017
8 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Brenda Chiri

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Thursday, August 31, 2017
37 poems of the maximum 41 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: JAN ALLISON

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Monday, September 4, 2017
18 poems of the maximum 60 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Geraldine Taylor

Contest: Fallen Angel
Enter Contest
Rhyme poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Monday, September 4, 2017
31 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Laura Loo

Enter Contest
Sedoka poetry form only.

Poetry Contest Deadline: Friday, September 15, 2017
32 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Cecelia Hopkins-Drewer

Contest: Form T
Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Friday, September 15, 2017
21 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Broken Wings

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Tuesday, September 19, 2017
21 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Nicola Byrne

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Wednesday, September 20, 2017
17 poems of the maximum 40 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Greg Barden

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Thursday, September 21, 2017
9 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Julie Rodeheaver

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Thursday, September 21, 2017
12 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: James Edward Lee Sr.

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Friday, September 22, 2017
0 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Eve Roper

Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Friday, September 22, 2017
3 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: John Hamilton

Contest: STUCK
Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Monday, September 25, 2017
6 poems of the maximum 40 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Sara Kendrick

Contest: Ground Edges
Enter Contest

Poetry Contest Deadline: Saturday, September 30, 2017
3 poems of the maximum 40 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: John lawless