The Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Prize (Up to $725)
Call for Submissions: 11th Annual Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Prize (2025–2026 Edition)
The Stephen DiBiase A Poetry Prize has opened submissions for its 11th annual poetry contest, welcoming poets from all over the world to submit unpublished or previously published poems for a chance to win cash prizes and international recognition.
This contest, founded in 2015, has grown into a widely respected, fully international competition that draws entries from more than 40 countries each year. Its mission is simple: remove the barriers that discourage poets from submitting, and celebrate powerful, boundary-breaking poems.
Important Dates
- Submissions Open: November 15, 2025
- Deadline: January 15, 2026 at 11:59 PM EST
- Final Judging: February 2026
- Winners Announced: April 2026 (published on the official website)
Submit early if you can — earlier submissions tend to receive earlier notifications.
Prizes
- $500 — First Place
- $150 — Second Place
- $75 — Third Place
Prize money is provided through a grant from the Hudson Valley Writers Guild.
All prize-winning poems and finalist poems will be published on the contest website.
Who Can Submit?
Anyone.
There are no restrictions on:
- Age
- Subject
- Form
- Style
- Length
- Whether the poem has been published before
Submission Guidelines for the Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Prize
- Submit one poem only.
- The poem must be written in English.
- Do not include your name anywhere on the poem.
- You must provide:
- Full name
- Complete residential address
- Submission is done through the form on the official website:
➤ https://dibiasepoetry.com/ - Accepted file formats: .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt, .rtf
- Optional: upload a poet photo (jpg, gif, png)
By submitting, you agree to receive occasional emails from the Hudson Valley Writers Guild (unsubscribe anytime).
About the Stephen A DiBiase Poetry Prize
The contest honors Stephen DiBiase, childhood friend of editor Bob Sharkey, who named the prize after him. The contest’s philosophy reflects Stephen’s love of community, storytelling, exploration, and artistic freedom.
It is intentionally designed to avoid practices that discourage poets — such as high fees or harsh restrictions. Instead, it offers:
- Free entry
- Modest but meaningful prizes
- No theme restrictions
- No page limits
- Welcoming of new and established voices
Each year, the contest’s judges review 30–40 of the strongest poems selected by the editor, with one judge being the previous year’s first-place winner.
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