Calendar
CURRENTLY OPEN
2026 Frontier OPEN
May 11, 2026 to July 12, 2026
Frontier Poetry is hosting its biggest contest of the year — the 2026 Frontier OPEN. We’ve left the door wide open and are looking for your strongest, most frontier-voyaging poem yet. No themes. Fewer limitations. We welcome poems in all forms — from the elegant to the electrifying, the classic to the taboo. Submissions open May 11–July 12, 2026. Poets of all backgrounds are encouraged to participate.
UPCOMING
2026 Myths & Fables Prize
July 13, 2026 to September 13, 2026
The 2026 Myths & Fables Prize is a poetry contest hosted by Frontier Poetry, running July 13–September 13, 2026. Send us your reimaginings, subversions, and reclamations of classic myths and fables that voyage to the edges of tradition and imagination. We’re excited to see work that reshapes timeless stories in fresh, unexpected ways. Poets of all backgrounds are invited to participate.
2026 Fall Poetry Lab
The Fall 2026 Frontier Poetry Lab is an online program from Frontier Poetry that gives emerging writers individualized editorial feedback, curated craft resources, and personalized journal suggestions to help develop their work. Writers can submit up to ten pages of poetry for detailed responses from experienced editors. The Lab runs October 1–October 31, 2026, and poets of all backgrounds are invited to participate.
2026 Portrait Challenge
September 28, 2026 to October 11, 2026
The 2026 Portrait Challenge is a 10‑day challenge hosted by Frontier Poetry, inviting new and emerging poets to submit work that functions like portraiture in verse. Send poetry that demonstrates the power and artistry of description — paint everything from the quiet pasture to the majestic mountain range, and craft portraits of loved ones, characters, and moments that enrich everyday life. Submissions are open September 28–October 11, 2026. Poets of all backgrounds are warmly encouraged to submit.
PREVIOUSLY OPEN
2026 Debut Chapbook Prize
March 9, 2026 to May 10, 2026
2026 Spring Poetry Lab
April 1, 2026 to April 30, 2026
2026 Hurt & Healing Prize
January 5, 2026 to March 8, 2026
2026 (NOT) in Love Haiku Challenge
February 5, 2026 to February 15, 2026
2025 Family & Home Prize
October 14, 2025 to December 14, 2025
2025 Fall Poetry Lab
October 1, 2025 to October 31, 2025
The Epistolary Challenge
September 18, 2025 to September 28, 2025
2025 Myths & Fables Prize
July 1, 2025 to September 7, 2025
2025 Frontier OPEN
May 5, 2025 to June 29, 2025
Misfits Poems Prize
March 3, 2025 to May 4, 2025
NEW VOICES POETRY
Year-Round
DETAILS: We also highly encourage you to submit your poetry for free to our New Voices, open year-round. We pay our emerging NV poets $50 per poem (up to $150), published every Friday. New Voices is the beating heart of Frontier, and we hope to read your work soon. Thank you so much for supporting the community of new and emerging poets. SUBMIT HERE.
