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Free Poetry Contests

Poetry contests are an excellent way for aspiring poets to showcase their talent and get recognized for their work. These contests, listed below, offer a platform for poets to share their creative expressions with a broader audience and gain feedback from experts in the field. It's an excellent opportunity to challenge oneself, improve one's writing skills, and win prizes and accolades. Whether you're an amateur poet or a seasoned professional, there are plenty of poetry contests that cater to all levels and styles. So why not try it and see where your words can take you?

Poetry Contests

About PoetrySoup Poetry Contests

Below is a list of free online poetry contests that you can enter right now. They are managed by PoetrySoup Premium Members. Poetry contests are held every day, and anyone can enter. All competitions are free; you can enter as many contests as you want. You keep copyrights on all of your poems. Some poetry contests even have prizes! 

Contest Submission Guidelines

  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 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 to see more of your poems).
  5. The entrant’s name, address, e-mail, and phone number must not appear in the poems.
  6. Do not identify yourself in your contest entries.
  7. The poet’s name should not appear anywhere in the poem field.

How to Win

  • Enter the contest early. A contest closes when the number of allowed entries is reached, or the deadline passes.
    Study the past winners of a contest sponsored by that member
  • Before entering a contest, have your poem critiqued in the High Critique Forum
  • Objectively and critically review your poem
  • Enter a lot of contests. The more contests you enter, the better your chance of winning one.

Tips for New Poets

List of Current Contests

Is a Premiere Poetry Contest Spiritual Gem Inside Me Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
26 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Mystic Rose Rose




Is a Premiere Poetry Contest Kundalini Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Wednesday, July 23, 2025
8 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Unseeking Seeker


Is a Premiere Poetry Contest Juxtaposition Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Sunday, July 27, 2025
22 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Regina Mcintosh


Is a Premiere Poetry Contest Usps Stamps Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Ekphrasis poetry form only.

Deadline: Sunday, July 27, 2025
7 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Robert James Liguori


Is a Premiere Poetry Contest The World Is Bleeding Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Wednesday, July 30, 2025
23 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Sara Jama




Is a Premiere Poetry Contest A Child Of Light Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Other poetry form only.

Deadline: Wednesday, July 30, 2025
8 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Suzette Richards


How Well Do You Know Your Partner (With A Twist) Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Saturday, July 12, 2025
27 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Poet Destroyer A


One In Five Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Roundel poetry form only.

Deadline: Monday, July 14, 2025
32 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Joseph May


Straight One-Rhymed Englyn Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Englyn poetry form only.

Deadline: Monday, July 14, 2025
36 poems of the maximum 40 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Mark Toney


Lost Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Verse poetry form only.

Deadline: Wednesday, July 16, 2025
14 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Craig Cornish


Stones Poems Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Saturday, July 19, 2025
17 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Oliver Mckeithan


Original Song Lyrics Poem - Performed With Music Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Lyric poetry form only.

Deadline: Monday, July 21, 2025
7 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: John Anderson


Kensington Avenue Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Tuesday, July 22, 2025
5 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Anthony Biaanco


Body Possession Horror Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Thursday, July 24, 2025
7 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Michael Fulkerson


12 Lines Or Less Ridiculous Comparisons Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Sunday, July 27, 2025
9 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Miranda Hawley


Gate Or Gates Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Sunday, July 27, 2025
24 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Constance La France


Summer Funny Limerick Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Limerick poetry form only.

Deadline: Sunday, July 27, 2025
28 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Tania Kitchin


Write Your Fave Song Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Monday, July 28, 2025
10 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Crystol Woods


Bitesize Contest No117 Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025
9 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Line Gauthier


Shaped Haiku 2 Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Haiku poetry form only.

Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025
5 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: JCB Brul


1394 Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Friday, August 1, 2025
9 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Brian Strand


Pick-A-Title, Vol 53 - Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Saturday, August 2, 2025
5 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh


More Contest Links

Types of Contests Available

Cash or Prize Contests

Is a Premiere Poetry Contest Premiere Contests

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

Standard Contest

  • Rules determined by the contest sponsor
  • The number of winners and how they place are determined by the contest sponsor

Afghanistan, Aland Islands, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Andorra, Angola, Anguilla, Antarctica, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijani Republic, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belarus Republic, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Bouvet Island, Brazil, British Indian Ocean Territory, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, Central African Republic, Chad, Chile, China, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Congo (DR), Cook Islands, Costa Rica, Cote D'Ivoire, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Djibouti, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, England, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), Faroe Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, French Polynesia, French Southern Territories, Gabon, Gambia, Georgia Republic, Germany, Ghana, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guam, Guatemala, Guernsey, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Heard and McDonald Islands, Honduras, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Ireland, Isle Of Man, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Korea (North), Korea (South), Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Maldives, Mali, Malta, Marshall Islands, Martinique, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mayotte, Mexico, Micronesia, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Montserrat, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Nauru, Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Norfolk Island, Northern Mariana Islands, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Palau, Palestinian Territories, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Pitcairn, Poland, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Qatar, Reunion, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts And Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Samoa, San Marino, Sao Tome and Principe, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, Senegal, Serbia, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, South Africa, South Georgia, South Georgia And The South Sandwich Islands, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Suriname, Svalbard and Jan Mayen Islands, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Togo, Tokelau, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks and Caicos Islands, Tuvalu, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, US Minor Outlying Islands, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Various Countries, Vatican City, Venezuela, Vietnam, Virgin Islands (British), Virgin Islands (US), Wales, Wallis And Futuna, Wallis and Futuna Islands, Western Sahara, Yemen, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe.


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