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?
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
- Submit your poems to PoetrySoup using the Submit Poems link at the top of any PoetrySoup page
- Return to the poetry contest page
- Select a contest to enter and click the Enter Contest button associated with the poetry contest you want to enter.
- Select your poem to enter by clicking the Enter Contest button (You may need to scroll to see more of your poems).
- The entrant’s name, address, e-mail, and phone number must not appear in the poems.
- Do not identify yourself in your contest entries.
- 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
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
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
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
21 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Unseeking Seeker
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Saturday, August 16, 2025
18 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Tom Woody
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Sunday, July 27, 2025
32 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Miranda Hawley
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Monday, July 28, 2025
21 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Crystol Woods
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
18 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Anthony Biaanco
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
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Sunday, August 17, 2025
20 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Alice Reynolds
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Sunday, August 17, 2025
27 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Line Gauthier
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Tuesday, August 19, 2025
10 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Edward Ibeh
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Thursday, August 21, 2025
18 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Constance La France
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
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Saturday, August 23, 2025
9 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Brian Strand
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
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Sunday, August 24, 2025
0 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Mystic Rose Rose
Enter Contest
Deadline:
Sunday, August 24, 2025
1 poems of the maximum
35
allowed have been entered.
Sponsored by:
Sara Kendrick
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
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
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