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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 Usps Stamps Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Ekphrasis poetry form only.

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




Is a Premiere Poetry Contest A Child Of Light Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Other poetry form only.

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


Is a Premiere Poetry Contest Prior To Intent Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
21 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Unseeking Seeker


Is a Premiere Poetry Contest Alice Through The Wormhole Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Saturday, August 16, 2025
18 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Tom Woody


12 Lines Or Less Ridiculous Comparisons Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

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




Write Your Fave Song Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

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


Kensington Avenue Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Tuesday, July 29, 2025
18 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Anthony Biaanco


The Double Swap Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Quatrain poetry form only.

Deadline: Wednesday, August 6, 2025
28 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Joseph May


Multiplicity Of The Self Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Sunday, August 17, 2025
20 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Alice Reynolds


Bite Size Contest No118 Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Sunday, August 17, 2025
27 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Line Gauthier


This Or That, Vol 35 Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Tuesday, August 19, 2025
10 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Edward Ibeh


Three Options In I Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Thursday, August 21, 2025
18 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Constance La France


Vibrations From A Verso Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Other poetry form only.

Deadline: Saturday, August 23, 2025
12 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Nette Onclaud


1398 Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Saturday, August 23, 2025
9 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Brian Strand


Illusku : Illustrated Haiku Challenge Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Other poetry form only.

Deadline: Saturday, August 23, 2025
2 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: JCB Brul


Gotcha Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Sunday, August 24, 2025
0 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Mystic Rose Rose


How You Feel And How God Feels Poetry Contest

Enter Contest

Deadline: Sunday, August 24, 2025
1 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Sara Kendrick


Tricube Challenge Poetry Contest

Enter Contest
Other poetry form only.

Deadline: Sunday, August 31, 2025
14 poems of the maximum 35 allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by: Oliver Mckeithan


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.


Book: Radiant Verses: A Journey Through Inspiring Poetry