The Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose ($200+Publication)
The Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose 2026 Are Open
The Adroit Journal has opened submissions for the 2026 Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose, with entries accepted from April 1 through May 1, 2026. The annual contest is open to secondary and undergraduate students worldwide, including international students and students graduating a semester early.
The prize recognizes outstanding emerging voices in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction, making it one of the most notable opportunities for student writers seeking publication and recognition.
Submission Guidelines for the Adroit Prizes
For poetry, writers may submit:
- Up to 5 poems per packet
- Maximum 10 pages single-spaced
- Up to 5 separate poetry submissions
For prose, writers may submit:
- Up to 3 pieces per packet
- Combined 3,500-word limit
- Fiction or creative nonfiction
- Up to 5 separate prose submissions
- Writers may submit in both categories, allowing for a total of 10 submissions.
- A $15 non-refundable submission fee applies, though fee assistance is available through the journal.
The Adroit Prizes: Awards and Publication
Each winner receives $200, and both winners and runners-up will have their work published in The Adroit Journal. Finalists also receive copies of the judges’ latest books, adding further value beyond the monetary award.
2026 Judges
This year’s judges are:
- Poetry: Leila Chatti. Leila Chatti was born in 1990 in Oakland, California. A Tunisian-American dual citizen, she has lived in the United States, Tunisia, and Southern France. Her work explores themes such as cultural identity, illness, and the female body.
- Prose: Karissa Chen. Karissa Chen is a Taiwanese American writer. Her debut novel, Homeseeking, was released in January 2025. She is a Fulbright, Kundiman Fiction, and VONA/Voices fellow.
Submission Tips
Before submitting, writers should review these writing tips to strengthen their packet strategy. A final line edit also helps, and this guide on copy editing can help ensure your work is clean and publication-ready.
