Name for Submissions: 2026 Cave Canem Prize
Deadline: Might 8, 2025 | Prize: $10,000 + Publication by College of Georgia Press
Cave Canem invitations Black poets to submit their debut full-length poetry manuscripts for the 2026 Cave Canem Prize, an annual award devoted to supporting the careers of rising Black voices in poetry. This prestigious prize presents not solely a $10,000 money award, but in addition publication by the College of Georgia Press, 15 creator copies, and a characteristic studying.
In regards to the Cave Canem Prize
Since its inception, the Cave Canem Prize has launched the careers of a number of the most compelling Black poets writing at the moment. It exists to supply a direct publishing path to main literary publishers—Graywolf Press, College of Pittsburgh Press, and College of Georgia Press—and assist poets share their voices with a broader viewers.
The 2026 successful manuscript can be revealed by College of Georgia Press in Fall 2026.
Eligibility Necessities for the Cave Canem Prize
- Open to Black poets who determine as members of the African Diaspora
- Manuscripts have to be authentic, unpublished, and written in English
- Candidates should not have beforehand revealed a full-length poetry e-book by way of an expert press
- Chapbooks and self-published works (print-run of 500 or fewer) are allowed
- Poets could submit concurrently to different contests however should notify Cave Canem if their manuscript is accepted elsewhere
Notice: Present/former college students, colleagues, household, and shut pals of the choose are ineligible, as are these affiliated with Cave Canem Basis or College of Georgia Press.
Submission Tips
- Submit one manuscript solely by way of Submittable
- Accepted file codecs: .docx or .pdf
- Manuscript ought to embrace:
- Title web page (title solely)
- Desk of contents
- 60–75 pages, paginated
- Not more than one poem per web page
- No creator title ought to seem within the doc
- Embrace a cowl letter in Submittable’s textual content field, not within the manuscript file
- Cowl letter ought to embrace a 200-word bio and acknowledgments of beforehand revealed poems
- No revisions allowed after submission
- Adhere strictly to the rules to keep away from disqualification.
Deadline
- Thursday, Might 8, 2025
- Submit by 11:59 PM ET
- Entry is free
Questions?
Contact: packages@ccpoets.org
Study extra and apply by way of Submittable.
