Saturnalia Books
Poetry Prize
&
Alma Book Awards
Information you need to know:
Saturnalia Books Poetry Prize: $1500 and publication by Saturnalia Books
Selected by 2026 Judge: Mark Bibbins
Mark Bibbins is the author of three books with Copper Canyon: 13th Balloon; They Don’t Kill You Because They’re Hungry, They Kill You Because They’re Full, named one of the best poetry collections of 2014 by Publishers Weekly; and The Dance of No Hard Feelings. He teaches in the graduate writing programs at Columbia University and The New School, where he co-founded LIT magazine, and in NYU’s Writers in Florence program. His work has appeared in Poetry, The New Yorker, The Paris Review, and four volumes of The Best American Poetry. Bibbins received a Lambda Literary Award for his first book, Sky Lounge (Graywolf, 2003), and was a New York Foundation for the Arts fellow. He lives in New York City.
Alma Book Awards: Two $1000 awards and publication by Saturnalia Books
Selected by the Saturnalia Books Editorial Team
Guidelines:
- Manuscript must be an original work of poetry written in English.
- Manuscript must be at least 48 pages in length (not including foreword material).
- Author’s name and contact information must not appear on manuscript.
- Acknowledgment page is optional. If your manuscript is a finalist, the acknowledgment page will be removed before it is sent to the judge.
- Online fee is $35. No refunds will be given to any manuscripts withdrawn from the competition after April 1 deadline.
- Multiple submissions are allowed. Each new submission will require its own online fee of $35.
- Simultaneous submissions are allowed. If your manuscript is accepted elsewhere (congratulations!), please withdraw promptly.
- All entries will be considered for all three prizes.
- Former students who have studied “poetry writing” with the judge are ineligible to enter. Friends and family of the judge are also ineligible.
- Contest winner will be announced in July on the Saturnalia Books website and via email. Please do not contact Saturnalia Books regarding your submission status before August 1.
- By submitting to the contest, you agree to be added to Saturnalia Books’ email list.
OPENS ANNUALLY FEBRUARY 15
Previous Saturnalia Poetry Prize Winners Include:
