Announcing Omnidawn’s 2026 Poetry Chapbook Contest
judged by Maw Shein Win!

We’re excited to read your work!

Every person who submits to an Omnidawn contest in 2026 will receive a 20% discount on all Omnidawn books sold through our distributor, and 20% off all Omnidawn classes. We offer two writing classes per year, one in the fall and one in spring.

how to submit: via submittable

https://omnidawn.submittable.com/submit

judge: Maw Shein Win

deadline: May 1 through June 16th at 11:59 pm Pacific

contest fee: $30

prize: $1000, and 20 printed copies

guidelines for submitting: click here

Suggested poem length:      
–Approximately 25 pgs to 45 pgs for submitting in an 8.5 x 11 size page

It’s up to you!

see past winners of Omnidawn’s Poetry Chapbook Contest

Note – Contest winners are announced 6-9 months after a contest closes. We take this amount of time because our year-round, paid, poetry editors carefully read the work, then discuss it in two extensive meetings, and send forward the highest ranking manuscripts to the judge, who also takes time to make their selection.

Omnidawn is a nonprofit independent press. All contest submission fees go to support Omnidawn Publishing, to pay our staff of poetry editors, to compensate the judge, and to pay a prize to the contest winner. All submission fees and donations large or small meaningfully contribute to our operating costs, and to our ability to continue publishing works of literary insight and cultural vitality.



Upcoming Poetry Contests



Guidelines for Omnidawn Poetry Book and Chapbook Contests

Guidelines for the Omnidawn Single Poem Broadside Contest


2026 Omnidawn Poetry Chapbook Contest:
5/1 to 6/16
Judged by Maw Shein Win
Prize: $1000, publication, and 20 copies
Contest fee: $30
see past winners of the Omnidawn Poetry Chapbook Contest

2026 Omnidawn Poetry Open Book Contest:
7/1 to 8/16
Judged by Julie Carr
Prize: $3000, publication, and 20 copies
Contest fee: $30
see past winners of the Omnidawn Poetry Open Book Contest


To receive email deadline alerts for poetry contests click here