The goal of the Montreal International Poetry Prize is to explore a variety of English idioms, encourage the creation of creative poetry, and foster global audience. Selected by a distinguished committee, it offers a $20,000 CAD award for a single poem of 40 lines or less. Run by the Department of English at McGill University, the prize presents an annual online reading series called Fluid Vessels that includes jurors and finalists. Asa Boxer, Peter Abramowicz, and Len Epp established the prize as a non-profit in 2010, and it has now grown to become an international contest with entries from more than 100 nations. Under McGill’s management since 2019, the prize upholds Montreal’s tradition as a hub for poetry, having a long history of publishing anthologies and advancing the careers of poets.
Location: Canada Financial coverage: Partially Funded
Eligibility Criteria:
- Age Requirement: At the time of entry submission, each participant must be at least the legal age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence.
- Topic: Any topic is acceptable for entries.
- International Submissions: We accept submissions from anywhere in the world. The author’s legal name must appear with every entry, though they may also use a pen name.
- Length: Submissions may be any length as long as they don’t go over forty (40) lines, without counting blank spaces, section headings with numbers, quick dedications, and epigraphs.
- Language: Although a few non-English words or phrases may be included, entries must be submitted mostly in English.
Eligible Regions: Open for all.
Benefits:
- Prize and Publication: About sixty poems will be chosen by the jury to be included in the Montreal Prize anthology. The winner of the $20,000 CAD prize will be selected from among the poems. All rules and regulations must be followed by participants in order to be eligible for publication and/or to win the prize.
- Free Copies: Participants who are included in the compilation will be given a complimentary copy of the Montreal Prize compilation.
- Announcement of Winner: The competition year’s Montreal Prize winner will be revealed by December 1st.
- Absent Transfer: The reward cannot be swapped or transferred. No substitutions are accepted.
- Refusal: The organizers are released from all commitments to the Entrant in the event that they decline the prize or publication in the Montreal Prize anthology.
- Method of Award: A phone call will be made to the winner.
Deadline: May 2, 2024
