Opportunitiesfor Poets
Prizes, fellowships, residencies, grants, and publications—with particular attention to opportunities for African and Black poets.
Deadlines shift. Always verify dates on the official site before submitting.
O P P O R T U N I T I E S ( 43 )
The Alhaji Arole Agarawu African Poetry Prize— Inaugural prize honoring Alhaji Arole Agarawu's legacy in African oral traditions. $1,000 award from a shortlist of ten poets. Open to poets of African descent worldwide.
OpenPrizeVisit
The Arole Grayling Wraith Prize— Companion prize to the Arole Agarawu Prize, awarded to a writer living on the African continent for a suite of 10 poems nominated by the board.
OpenPrizeVisit
Yale Series of Younger Poets— Oldest annual U.S. literary award for emerging poets without a published book. $1,000 advance, publication, and a writing fellowship.
Oct 1 – Nov 15PrizeVisit
National Poetry Series — Open Competition— Five winners receive $10,000 and publication of a full-length manuscript. Open to U.S. residents.
Jan – MarPrizeVisit
Forward Prizes for Poetry— UK/Ireland prizes for Best Collection (GBP 10,000), Best First Collection (GBP 5,000), and Best Single Poem (GBP 1,000).
Mar 15PrizeVisit
T.S. Eliot Prize— The UK's most valuable annual poetry prize — GBP 25,000 to the winner, GBP 1,500 to each shortlisted poet.
SummerPrizeVisit
The London Magazine Poetry Prize— Annual poetry competition open worldwide with publication in The London Magazine.
PrizeVisit
APR/Honickman First Book Prize— $3,000 prize plus publication through Copper Canyon Press. 2026 judge: Terrance Hayes.
Oct 1PrizeVisit
Stanley Kunitz Memorial Prize— $1,000 prize for a single poem, published on the feature page of APR.
May 15PrizeVisit
PEN America Literary Awards— Awards, grants, and fellowships honoring outstanding voices in literature including poetry.
Apr 1PrizeVisit
Guggenheim Fellowship— Fellowships for mid-career individuals with notable achievement across 50+ fields including poetry. No application fee.
SepFellowshipVisit
Ruth Lilly Poetry Fellowships— Five fellowships of $27,000 each for exceptional U.S. poets aged 21-31.
MarFellowshipVisit
NEA Creative Writing Fellowships— $50,000 fellowships for published creative writers. Poetry and prose alternate years.
VariesFellowshipVisit
Yaddo— Fully funded residencies (2 weeks to 2 months) with room, board, and studio in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Aug 1ResidencyVisit
MacDowell— Fully funded residencies (10 days to 6 weeks) with private studio, lodging, meals, and need-based stipends.
Sep 10ResidencyVisit
Hedgebrook— Fully funded 2-3 week residencies on Whidbey Island, WA. Open to women-identified writers.
Feb – AprResidencyVisit
Poetry Magazine— The oldest and most prestigious U.S. poetry magazine. Publishes a wide range of styles. Pays $10 per line.
RollingPublicationVisit
The Paris Review— One of the most prestigious literary magazines. Pays $300 per poem. Open September through May.
Sep – MayPublicationVisit
American Poetry Review— Leading poetry journal reaching a worldwide audience. Submit up to 5 poems; pays $1 per line.
RollingPublicationVisit
The Kenyon Review— Prestigious literary journal with thematic folios. Submit up to 6 poems; no reading fee.
Sep 1-30PublicationVisit
Granta— Influential literary magazine publishing new writing in quarterly submission windows.
QuarterlyPublicationVisit
Poetry Foundation Grants— Multiple grant programs including Equity in Verse ($10,000-$100,000) for nonprofit poetry organizations.
VariesGrantVisit
Evaristo Prize for African Poetry— USD $1,500 for a packet of ten poems by an African poet who has not yet published a full-length book. No entry fee.
Oct 1 – Nov 1PrizeVisit
Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets— $1,000 and book publication through University of Nebraska Press for an African poet's first full-length collection.
Sep 15 – Dec 1PrizeVisit
Glenna Luschei Prize for African Poetry— Post-publication award of $1,000 for a book of poetry published by an African author.
May 1 – Oct 1PrizeVisit
Nigeria Prize for Literature 2026 (Poetry)— One of Africa's richest literary prizes at USD $100,000. The 2026 edition focuses on poetry.
Mar 31PrizeVisit
University of Johannesburg Prize for South African Writing— Recognizes outstanding South African literary work including poetry.
Mar 31PrizeVisit
Cave Canem Prize— $10,000 and publication through a major press for an unpublished first book by a Black poet. No entry fee.
Apr 1-30PrizeVisit
Naomi Long Madgett Poetry Award— $500 and book publication for a poetry manuscript by an African American poet. No entry fee.
Mar 15PrizeVisit
Hurston/Wright Legacy Award (Poetry)— Honors Black writers globally for literary achievement in published poetry books.
PrizeVisit
Derricotte/Eady Prize— Chapbook prize for Black poets with publication, a residency at The Betsy Hotel, and a featured reading.
PrizeVisit
Cave Canem Fellowship (Retreat)— Annual retreat of intensive poetry workshops and readings. Free to all Fellows. A cornerstone program for developing Black poets.
FellowshipVisit
Poetry Coalition Fellowships— Paid part-time fellowships ($20,000 stipend) at eight host organizations across the country.
FellowshipVisit
NEPC Grants for Black Poets and Poets of Color— Up to $10,000 in grants specifically for Black poets and poets of color for poetic achievement.
GrantVisit
African Poetry Digital Humanities Grant— Supports Digital Humanities research in African Poetry. Grant period April 2026 - April 2027.
Jan 23GrantVisit
LOATAD Black Atlantic Residency— Residency in Accra, Ghana for writers from Africa and the African Diaspora exploring 'What is Africa to the world?'
ResidencyVisit
Trillium Arts Fellowship for Black Women Writers— Ten-day solo residency in Asheville, NC with a $1,000 stipend and transportation for Black women writers.
ResidencyVisit
Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora— Celebrating 50 years, publishes poetry, fiction, essays, and visual art by Black and diasporic African artists.
PublicationVisit
Callaloo Journal— Devoted to creative work by and critical studies of peoples of African descent throughout the Diaspora.
Sep 1 – May 1PublicationVisit
20.35 Africa Poetry Anthology— Anthology series uplifting living African poets aged 20-35 from across the continent and diaspora.
Mar 25PublicationVisit
FIYAH Literary Magazine— Quarterly speculative fiction and poetry magazine featuring work by and about Black people of the African Diaspora.
PublicationVisit
The Decolonial Passage— Centers African, African-American, and Black Diaspora writing. Accepts up to three poems per submission.
RollingPublicationVisit
Writers Space Africa Magazine— African literary magazine currently accepting submissions for themed editions.
Mar 15PublicationVisit
Know of an opportunity we should list? Contact us to suggest additions to this page. We especially welcome tips on opportunities for African and diasporic poets.