Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) is excited to announce the kickoff of our 67th Annual Poetry Festival Contests. We offer 17 contests, more than $1,000 in prizes, publication opportunities and a Best of Fest Award. We’re excited about the line-up and hope you will be, too. The contests are made possible by PST and a host of sponsors, to whom we are most grateful.

About the Contests

Contests explore a variety of themes and forms, several Tennessee-centered. First place poems will be published in Tennessee Voices Anthology, 2023-2024. In addition, poems by winners and finalists of the “Tennessee Voices” contest will be published in the anthology. Other winning poems may be published at the discretion of the society. Poets whose poems are published will receive a complimentary copy of the anthology, as will sponsors and judges.

For a low entry fee of $10 for members or $15 for non-members, poets can enter all contests for which they are eligible (15 contests are open to anyone). PST accepts checks or online payment for fees. Entries may be submitted by email or mail and must be submitted or postmarked by December 15, 2023.

Prize amounts vary by contest. In addition to individual contest prizes, first place poems will be eligible for the “Best of Fest” award for the top poem of the festival. An outside judge will select the winning poem. The prize is $250.

Contest winners will be announced at PST’s 67th Annual Poetry Festival to be held spring 2024.

Get more contest details here. Download a printer-friendly contest packet here.

About Tennessee Voices Anthology

Tennessee Voices Anthology is a publication of Poetry Society of Tennessee. It includes winning poems from member contests, student contests, festival contests and more. Get more information, including how to purchase anthology editions, here.