Poetry Competition

Established to recognise and encourage excellence in the craft of poetry writing and to provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Poetry Competition is open to original and previously unpublished poems in the English language. Entries are invited from poets of all nationalities, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Poems submitted should not exceed 40 lines. There is no limit to entries per person. Each submission will require a separate entry form and is subject to a separate entry fee.

It is not a requirement, but is advisable to refer to Anthology magazine or purchase a copy before submitting your work, so that you can see the type of material we publish. Subscriptions and single copies are available to purchase through our online shop.

Anthology is now available in digital format
Purchase Volume 25 Digital here to read the winning story from the Anthology Poetry Competition 2025.
Purchase Volume 23 Digital here to read the winning poem from the Anthology Poetry Competition 2024.
Purchase Volume 21 Digital here to read the winning poem from the Anthology Poetry Competition 2023.

Prizes

FIRST: The winner will receive a €1,000 cash prize and the chance to see their work published in a future issue of Anthology.
SECOND: €250
THIRD: €150

Anthology has partnered with Reedsy Learning to provide the following prizes:

Winner: one-year Reedsy Learning membership (including all masterclasses and conferences)
Shortlist: one live craft masterclass of choice
All entrants: exclusive 10% membership discount

Submission deadline and entry fees

Standard Fee – €18: July 1st – Oct 31st 2026

Contact admin@anthology-magazine.com for information on group entry fees.

How to enter

The competition may be entered online or by mail

Online Entries

Click ‘Submit a Poem‘ below.
Fill in your details and upload your story.
Click ‘Submit‘ and complete payment.

Terms and Conditions are outlined below.

Submit a Poem

Postal Entries

Complete entry form, which can be downloaded at this LINK
Submission Address
Mail entries to: Anthology Publishing, 1 Willow Court, Dooradoyle, Limerick, V94 C9XV, Ireland
Make cheques/bank drafts payable to: Anthology Publishing. Note: Postal orders not accepted from outside Ireland.
Payment for postal entries can also be made through Paypal at advertising@anthology-magazine.com. Reciept/transaction ID must accompany the submission.
All payments must be in EUR (Euro) to avoid conversion fees.
Entries will be confirmed by email.
Single-sided printing only.
Copies of entries should be retained as scripts will not be returned.

If you experience any difficulties submitting your entry, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us: admin@anthology-magazine.com. We’re here to assist you.

Terms and conditions

Eligibility & Submission Requirements

Open to all ages; no restrictions on theme or style.
Submit an original, unpublished poem, written in English with a maximum of 40 lines. Adapted, revised or otherwise reworked versions of previously published material are not eligible for entry.
Multiple entries permitted; each requires a separate form and fee.
Simultaneous submissions allowed, but withdraw if accepted for publication elsewhere.
The use of Generative AI is not permitted for entries to the competition.

Formatting Guidelines (To avoid disqualification, these guidelines must be adhered to)

File type: PDF or Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx).
Font: Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt, 1.5 or double-spaced.
Title: The title of the poem is to be placed at the top of the first page.
No cover/title pages: Do not add cover/title pages to the document.
Anonymity: Do not include your name in the document, file name, or body of the poem.

Judging & Prizes

Judged anonymously on poetic merit, originality and overall impact.
As this is an annual competition, entrants will be notified of the results in early 2027. Entrants will be notified of when winners are chosen via email.
Prize money paid upon publication in Anthology.
The author retains copyright, but Anthology reserves the right to first publication or broadcast of the winning poem, and to use it for award publicity.

Fees & Administration

In order to minimise administrative costs and maintain affordable fees, please note that entry fees are non-refundable.
Poems cannot be altered or substituted once they have been entered.
Anthology reserves the right to amend competition schedules.

**Submission implies acceptance of all terms**

Previous Poetry Competition Winners

2025 Winner: Antipodean Dryad by Veronica Lake
2024 Winner: Through the Membrane by Lisa St. John
2023 Winner: Telescope by Frank Lowry
2022 Winner: Winter Dreams by Caroline Wellman
2021 Winner: Unknown Freedom by Crystal Cardona
2020 Winner: Her Dul Abhaile Jar by Sigle Meehan

**The Anthology Poetry Competition is listed with:**

Judging

Dr. Rachael Hegarty will judge the Anthology Poetry Competition. Rachel is a Dubliner and was educated by the Holy Faithers in Finglas, the U. Mass Bostonians, the Trinity M. Phillers in Dublin and the Ph.D. Magicians at Queens University, Belfast. Her debut collection, Flight Paths Over Finglas won the 2018 Shine Strong Award. A child survivor of the Talbot Street bomb, her collection May Day 1974 (Salmon, 2019) has received critical acclaim for the 33 docu-sonnets and 33 ballads for the people who died on the single worst day of The Troubles. Rachael has also edited a book of poems by community groups from hometown in Making Sense of Finglas (2019). Her third collection, Dancing with Memory (Salmon, 2021) is a dance hall of memory for her mother who lives with Alzheimer’s. www.salmonpoetry.com

Anthology Poetry Competition

First prize of €1,000 and the winning poem published in Anthology magazine. Entries are now invited

Prizes

Submission deadline and entry fees

How to enter

Postal Entries

Terms and conditions

Previous Poetry Competition Winners

The Anthology Poetry Competition is listed with:

Judging

KEEP READING

Anthology Cover Art Competition

Hotel Motto, Vienna

**The Anthology Poetry Competition is listed with:**