50+ Free Poetry Contests to enter in 2025

Looking for online publishers, poetry contests or magazines for submissions is quite a monotonous and tiresome process in itself, let alone the chances of finding relevant info. But not anymore!

Here you’ll find monthly updated poetry contests and submission portals that’ll help you grow as beginners and support your writing career at the same time. Every contest is provided with all the information you need to know before submitting to it. Poets from all nationalities can take part in the poetry contests without worrying about submission fee. So, go writers!

Note: Some online poetry contests might be area restricted , VPN is recommended.

TO ALWAYS STAY UPDATED, FOLLOW US ON OUR INSTAGRAM!

Poetry Contests:

For beginners, here’s what you might need before publishing your work:

1. The Chestnut Review Competitions

Deadline: Sept 30, 2025

Submission Requirements: 

1. Unpublished work only.
2. Do not accept submissions of AI-generated work.
3. Any artist from anywhere in the world may submit.
4. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged
5. One active submission per category at a time
6. All those who submit work must be at least 18 years of age.
7. Submit 1-3 poems.
8. Flash: Submit one piece of up to 1000 words
9. Submit one piece between 1000 and 5000 words

Only teams of three or more are eligible to apply.

Prize: $120

2. Swamp pink

Deadline: Fri, Aug 1, 2025 9:30 AM

Submission Requirements:

1. They do not consider previously published or self-published submissions.
2. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
3. Particularly interested in submissions from writers of color and writers from marginalized and underrepresented communities.
4. Submit a set of 3-6 poems.
5. Takes us 12-16 weeks to respond to submissions.

Prize: Poems receive $40 each & Publication. Maximum payout for accepted work is $200.

3. Southern Poetry Review

Deadline: open.

Submission requirements:

1. welcomes previously unpublished poetry submissions from all nationalities.
2. Submissions are limited to five poems (1 file), and should not exceed ten pages.

Prize: Publication

4. The Ampersand Review

Deadline: open

Submission requirements: only accept submissions from writers who reside in Canada.

1. Poetry submissions should not exceed five poems.
2. Unlimited submissions are accepted
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.

Prize: $50 per poem/page to a maximum of $100.

5.  New Voices: Frontier Poetry

Deadline: open

Submission requirements:

1. Submissions are open to new and emerging poets only.
2. They accept simultaneous submissions.
3. They do not accept multiple submissions.

Cover letter needed.

All submissions must be no more than ten pages and no more than five poems.

Prize:

• $50 per poem, up to $150.

6. WEST TRADE REVIEW

Deadline: Sat, Aug 2, 2025 9:30 AM.

Submission requirement : offer free submissions the first week of each month (April to December)

1. All submissions must be previously unpublished and are limited to five poems per reading period
2. must be accompanied by a cover letter and a biography of no more than 150 words.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
4. Submit only once per reading period.

Prize:

1. Publication.

7. 2024 “I Matter” poetry Contests

Deadline: open

Submission requirement:

1. Each entry must be original poetry solely created by students.
2. The topic of  the contest is :Black Lives Matter.
3. The contest is open to students in grades K to 12.
4. The contest is open to residents of the United States, as well as to international students.

Prize: $500

8. Brink Submission

Deadline: Fri, Aug 1, 2025 12:30 PM

Brink is open for hybrid and cross-genre submissions of any length and style engaging the theme of obsession.

Submission requirements:

1. send us 3-5 unpublished poems, totaling no more than 10 pages
2. Entries must be in English.
3. Not interested in sentimental or ready-made verse
4. Simultaneous submissions are allowed

Prize: publication

9. PRISM International

Deadline: Tue, Sep 16, 2025 12:30 PM

Submission requirements:

Inclusive Access option under the ‘Submission Fee’ category for those unable to pay the regular $3.00 fee.

1. They only accept original, previously unpublished poetry.
2. They accept and encourage simultaneous submissions.
3. Welcome cross-genre, hybrid, and interdisciplinary poetry and poetics.
4. Accepts up to four poems, maximum of six pages. . Each poem must be submitted in its own form.

Prize : $500 & publication.

10.  Seedlings Micro Poetry

Deadline: open

Submission requirements:

1. Open to simultaneous submissions.
2. Entries in English only. Original work accepted only.
3. Word limit: 20 words or less

Prize: Publication

11. Fahmidan Submissions

Deadline: September 15, 2025

Submission requirements:

1. They do not print previously published work.
2. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged.
3. Submit up to 3 Poems for Free

Prize: $25 per piece

12. Yellow Arrow Journal

Deadline: August 31, 2025 12:30 PM

Submission requirement:

1. No restriction on age or nationality of author.
2. Poetry (up to 2 poems per author per issue)
3. welcome simultaneous submissions
4. Submissions do not need to be in English but must include an English translation.
5. Submissions must relate to the theme of KAIROS

Prize $10.00USD

13. Blue Mountain Greeting Card Prize

Deadline: September 8, 2025

Payment: $300 per poem for the worldwide, exclusive rights to publish it on a greeting card and other products, and $50 per poem for one-time use in a book.

Submission requirements:

1. Annual competition is open to Undergraduate student poets who are enrolled in a United States College or University.
2. Limit of Three poems per Category.
3. Unpublished, original poems composed in the traditional modes of meter, rhyme and received forms are accepted.
4. The poems should be written in Spanish and translations of English poems to Spanish.

14. Haunted Words Press

Deadline: open

Submission requirements:

1. Poetry should be no longer than two pages
2. Simultaneous submission accepted.
3. Submit no more than three pieces

Payment: publication

15. Eurydice Lit

Deadline: not mentioned

If you are interested in more poetry contests, you can go through our Paid Poetry contests list.

Submission requirements:

1. Submitters must be between 11-24 years of age to be eligible for consideration.
2. Accepts simultaneous submissions. No more than 80 lines per poem.
3. Up to 3 poems per submission.

Prize:   $5.00 USD as a minor monetary compensation

16. Lucky Jefferson

Only STUDENTS & STARTERS SUBMIT FOR FREE

Deadline: Mon, Aug 18, 2025 3:30 PM

Submission requirements:

1. Submit up to 5 poems or up to 10 pages of poetry in one file.
2. Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
3. They do not accept previously published work.

Payment: $100, publication, and a swag box.

17. The Split Lip Magazine Poetry contests

Deadline: open on in selected months i.e. January, March, May, August, September, November.

Submission requirements:

1. They are looking for ‘First-time electronic publication rights’ meaning fresh work that’s not published anywhere.
2. They accept simultaneous submissions with one submission per writer at a time.

Payment: $75 per author for poems along with payment for print is $ 5 per page, minimum of $20, plus 2contributor copies.

18. The 2025 Palette Poetry Prize

Deadline: Mon, Sep 22, 2025 12:30 PM.

Submission requirements: Free Entry for BIPOC and Historically Marginalized Poets

1. Submissions are open internationally, to any poet writing in English.
2. They accept simultaneous submissions.
3. Submission must be no more than three poems and under ten pages.
4. Writers from historically marginalized groups are invited to submit for free until we reach the fifty free entries budgeted for this particular contest.

Payment: The winner will be awarded $3,000 and publication, the first runner-up will receive $300 and publication, and the second runner-up will receive $200 and publication. Finalists may also be considered for publication.

19. Cafe con Libros Press

Deadline: August 31, 2025

Submission requirements:

1. Submit 5 poems or upto 10 pages.
2. Previously unpublished books are accepted.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.

Payment: Publication

ALL SUBMISSIONS ARE ACCEPTED THROUGH EMAIL: cafeconlibrospress@gmail.com

20. American Literary Review

Deadline: open

Submission requirements:

1. unpublished, original poems are only accepted.
2. poetry under 1000 words.
3. hybridity is encouraged

Prize: Publication

21. Josephine Quarterly

Deadline: open

Submission requirements:only consider 200 submissions a month

1. Simultaneous submissions are welcome.
2. Submit up to 5 poems of any length
3. No age bar mentioned specifically
4. Only previously unpublished work will be considered.

Payment: $30 per poem + also nominate select contributors for the Best of the Net Anthology and for Pushcart Prizes.

22. Squid 2025

Deadline: open

Submission requirements:

1. Submissions in both English and French are accepted.
2. Submit up to five poems of any length
3. Multiple submissions are accepted.
4. Entries are welcome from poets based anywhere in the world.
5. There are no restrictions on themes, subjects or styles.

Payment: publication

23. The Emma Press

Deadline: 1 August – 15 August 2025

Poetry Pamphlets (for adults) & Children’s Poetry Books (8+)

Submission requirements:

1. submissions from anywhere in the world
2. send a proposal and a sample of at least 10 pages of poems, or the full manuscript
3. A full poetry pamphlet manuscript would be around 23 pages of poetry
4. Simultaneous submissions are permitted
5. children’s poetry collections contain around 35-45 poems.
6. AI-generated work will be automatically disqualified.

Prize: offer a small advance on books we choose to publish – £50 for poetry and children’s books

24. PETAL PROJECTIONS

Deadline:  August 1, 2025

Submission requirements: Theme: community, intersectional feminism, self-love/ self-care, environmental care, & ecofeminism.

1. All work must be original.
2. Entries should not have been previously published.
3. Simultaneous submissions are ALLOWED.
4. Innovative and thought-provoking content is highly appreciated.
5. No Poetry restrictions
6. Any topic or style will be considered.

Payments: publication

25. The Ex-Puritan

Deadline: Fri, Sep 26, 2025 9:30 AM

Submission requirements:

1. poems of any length (including sequences and long poems).
2. Send up to four poems at a time.
3. accept a limited number of no-fee submissions each month.
4. Accept simultaneous submissions

Prize: publication

26. Frontier Poetry Magazine

Deadline: always open

Guidelines:

1. open year round to any new and emerging poet who has not published more than one full-length collection of poetry.
2. open internationally for historically marginalized BIPOC writers only.
3. Multiple submissions are NOT allowed.
4. Submissions must be no more than ten pages and no more than five poems.
5. Accept simultaneous submissions

Payment: $50 per poem.

27. Unusual Poetry Submission

Deadline: August 25, 23:59 (NY Time)

Guidelines:

1. poem should be under 1500 characters (spaces not included)
2. One entry per contestant. Multiple entries will be disqualified.
3. Anyone can participate, but the poem should be english.

Payment: $25 and be featured in our newsletter

28. Poetry London Submissions

Deadline: Open

Guidelines:

1. submit up to six poems.
2. Particularly keen to read poems in translation, especially translations from endangered languages.

Payment: £30 per poem

29. The Hooghly Review

Deadline: open

Guidelines:

1. Up to 1000 words are accepted.
2. Each poem must be two pages or shorter.
3. Previously unpublished work.
4. Simultaneous submissions are more than welcome.
5. You may make up to two submissions in a submission period.

Payment: Publication

30. Moonday Mag Submission

Deadline: open

Guidelines:

1. Up to 5 poems not exceeding 10 pages collectively.
2. Welcomes simultaneous submissions and previously published work.

Payment: publication + prize nomination

31. Harbor Editions – Chapbook Submission

Deadline: Wed, Oct 1, 2025 12:30 PM

Guidelines: fees are waived for BIPOC identifying writers.

1. Chapbooks should be between 20-40 pages of poetry
2. Previously unpublished works are accepted and so are the simultaneous submissions.
3. The collection as a whole must be unpublished.
4. Simultaneous submissions are permitted.
5. Do not accept translations.

Payment: standard publishing contract, 20 copies of their book and publication of their micro chapbook online at Harbor Review.

32. F(r)iction: Fame Submissions

Deadline: Sun, Aug 31, 2025 11:30 AM

Guidelines:

1. Read simultaneous submissions.
2. Do not consider work that has been previously published.
3. (up to five poems in the same document) up the three pages per poem

Payment: publication

33. Doubleback Review

Deadline: August 15, 2025

Guidelines:

1. Only publish previously-published work from journals that no longer exist
2. Accept submissions on a rolling basis.
3. Poets should send up to five poems
4. Include a third-person biography, 75 words or fewer
5. Only submit one packet at a time
6. Pieces of any genre are accepted

Prize: Publication

34. FLARE Magazine

Deadline: 21 August 2025

Guidelines:

1. Up to 3 poems
2. Multiple submissions are considered.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
4. Prose poetry is allowed.

Prize: publication & promotion

35. Pencil Magaz

Deadline: July 7, 2025.

Guidelines: submission could be about erasers/erasing/erasure.

1. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
2. Do not accept previously published work.
3. Up to 5 poems.

36. Remington Review

Deadline: August 29, 2025

Guidelines:

1. Original work as well as reprints are accepted.
2. Not have any established themes
3. Send up to five poems totaling no more than 10 Word or PDF document pages
4. Submissions must not have been previously published
5. Simultaneous submissions are permitted

Prize: Publication

37. American Literary Review General Subs.

Deadline: Tue, Sep 2, 2025 10:30 AM

To request a fee-waived submission, email americanliteraryreview@gmail.com.

Guidelines:

1. Include up to 5 poems per submission.
2. There is no word or page limit.
3. Do not submit more than once per reading period.
4. Poetry submitted for publication in the American Literary
5. Review must be accompanied by a cover letter

The poetry submission portal will close if they receive 300 submissions before the reading period ends.

Prize: publication

38. Grain magazine

Deadline: Mon, Jun 16, 2025 10:30 AM

Free for Canadian poets. They are able to offer a limited number of fee waivers to those writers for whom the reading fee is prohibitive;

Email grainmag@skwriter.com to inquire about fee waivers and before submitting your work.

Guidelines:

1. Individual poems, sequences, or suites up to a maximum of 6 pages.
2. Include a cover letter.
3. All work must be original, and human-generated, from start to finish.
4. We do not accept submissions of any kind that were written, developed, or assisted by AI tools such as ChatGPT.

Prize: $50 per page to a maximum of $250, plus 2 copies of the issue

39. American Literary Review

Deadline: open

Guidelines:

1. Poetry under 1000 words.
2. For poetry, the lyric is important: a prose poem should not have dead music.

Prize: publication

40. ARCANA Poetry Press: 2025 Anthology

Deadline: June 1st, 2025

Guidelines: Theme: “Roots & Ruin”

1. Submit up to 1-5 poems, must be in English.
2. Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
3. Open to poets of all backgrounds and experience levels.
4. Poems must be original and unpublished
5. welcome free verse and formal verse poetry

Prize: publication

41. South Broadway Ghost Society

Deadline: June 21, 2025

Guidelines:

1. submit no more than 1-3 poems per submission.
2. submit only once to this call.
3. Simultaneous submissions are considered.
4. Poems previously published online won’t be considered.

Prize: publication

42. Sundress Publications

Deadline: August 31, 2025

The submission fee is waived for all BIPOC writers for the duration of the reading period.

1. open for submissions of full-length poetry manuscripts.
2. Manuscripts translated from another language will not be accepted.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
4. looking for manuscripts of forty-eight to eighty (48–80) single-spaced pages

Prize: publication

43. The Shore

Deadline: June 1, 2025

Guidelines:

1. submit upto 3-5 poems per submission.
2. A cover letter and third-person bio has to be included.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.

Prize: publication

44. Baltimore Review

Deadline: Sun, Jun 1, 2025 9:30 AM

Guidelines:

1. send 3 poems.
2. One submission per reading period.
3. prose poems are preferred

Prize: publication

45. The Carolyn Moore Writing Residency

Deadline: May 15th, 2025.

Guidelines:

1. open to all and free from formal guidelines or restrictions.
2. They welcome poetry, prose, visual work and experiments in between.
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.

Prize: publication

46. Humana Obscura

Deadline: Fri, May 2, 2025 12:30 PM

Guidelines:

1. they accept poetry submissions of up to five poems.
2. Submissions must be accompanied by a brief 50 to 100 word third-person bio.
3. Accept simultaneous submissions
4. will not accept work previously published

Prize: publication

47. The Turning Leaf Journal

Deadline: open

Guidelines:

1. You may include up to 3 poems in one submission.
2. You may include up to 3 hybrid pieces in one submission, totaling no more than 5,000 words.
3. Response time averages at 27 days

Prize: publication

48. The Schooner

Deadline: Fri, May 2, 2025 10:30 AM

Guidelines:

1. 5-7 poems are accepted.
2. submission must be unpublished and not plagiarised.
3. Submission should be in English, or with an accurate translation.
4. Simultaneous submissions are NOT accepted.

Prize: publication

49. Seaford Review

Deadline: 31 January 2025

Guidelines: simultaneous submissions are accepted. Only unpublished work to be submitted. Open to all nationalities.

Prize: publication

50. Hayden’s Ferry Review

Deadline: open

Guidelines:

1. They do not accept AI-generated contest.
2. Send up to 3 poems (no more than 10 pages).
3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted.
4. They  not accept previously published work.
5. Do not consider book-length works.

Prize: publication

51. Fregmented Voices

Deadline: 31 MAY 2025

Guidelines:

1. For poetry, send up to 4 poems, no longer than 40 lines each.
2. Welcome simultaneous submissions.
3. Do not accept multiple submissions.
4. Prefer previously unpublished work.

Prize: publication

IF YOU LIKED THIS ARTICLE THEN CHECK OUT OUR:

1. BEST WRITING COMPETITIONS
2. HOW TO PUBLISH POETRY
3. HOW TO WRITE HAIKU