The Poetry Society of Tennessee (PST) sponsors various poetry contests through the year:
FESTIVAL CONTEST SPONSORSHIPS ARE NOW OPEN
Sponsorships are currently open for our festival contests. Get details here. You can complete a sponsor application online or by mail.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Congratulations to all PST contest winners, and many thanks to all entrants. Much gratitude to PST member volunteers, contest sponsors, and contest judges.
- Members-Only Contests: Each year, the society holds contests exclusively for members. Members and friends of the society sponsor the contests. Winners receive monetary prizes, and first place winning poems are published in Tennessee Voices, PST's anthology. Learn more.
- Student Contests: The society holds student contests for three divisions: high school middle school, and elementary. Monetary prizes are awarded to top poems, and the first place winning poems are published in Tennessee Voices. Learn more.
- Festival Contests: The society holds contests for its annual poetry festival. This generally will be in the form of several individual contests or may be conducted through a call for submissions, or through some combination, at the discretion of the PST Board. Look for more details this fall. Learn more.
- National Federation of State Poetry Society Contests: The society sponsors a contest for the NFSPS annual poetry contests.
FESTIVAL CONTEST SPONSORSHIPS ARE NOW OPEN
Sponsorships are currently open for our festival contests. Get details here. You can complete a sponsor application online or by mail.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Our 2023-2024 Student Contests are now open! Get details.
- Get PSTs list of monthly contest winners.
- During the 66th Annual Poetry Festival, held Apri 15, 2023, PST announced the top 3 poems from the Tennessee Voices, 2022-2023 Call for Submissions, selected by educator and poet Rick Hilles: Carson Colenbaugh ($150), for “At the Powerline, Picking Blackberries; Jake Lawson ($100) for “Sky Master;” and Rieppe Moore ($50) for “Lines on Snow.”
Congratulations to all PST contest winners, and many thanks to all entrants. Much gratitude to PST member volunteers, contest sponsors, and contest judges.

MORE CONTESTS
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) offers contests annually, including:
Get details on NFSPS and other state society contests.
The National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS) offers contests annually, including:
- Annual poetry contests
- Blackberry Peach: a contest for page and stage
- College Undergraduate Competition: chapbook competition
- Manningham Trust Student Poetry Contest (for grades 6 through 12)
- Stevens Poetry Manuscript Competition
Get details on NFSPS and other state society contests.