Inaugural New England Poetry Prize: Submission from Presses more than 10 books/year Mass Poetry Fee: usd $50.00

This inaugural post-pub book prize will recognize an outstanding collection of poetry published in our region since the 2025 Massachusetts Poetry Festival. In addition to a cash prize, the winner will be honored with a headline Festival reading. This inaugural prize compliments our First Poem Contest Prize and Mass Poetry’s commitment to creating opportunities for poets. For individual poems, click here to learn more about the First Poem Contest.

About the Prize:

• $1000 winning prize
• A headline reading at the 2027 Massachusetts Poetry Festival
• Additional long-list titles may be recognized or invited to read

Eligibility:

• Collections with a publication date between May 2025 and July 31 2027 are eligible (titles forthcoming at the time of submission should be substantially finished with an anticipated publication date before July 31).
• Author(s) must currently live in New England, or have lived in New England in the past for at least one year.
• Self-published titles and titles published by presses are both eligible.
• Full-length collections and chapbooks with an ISBN are both eligible.
• Hybrid and collaborative works are accepted, but titles must be at least 50% poetry.
• Mass Poetry believes that much beauty in the art-making process comes from our humanity. Please do not submit any language or images generated by AI, even if they have been revised. Submissions found to violate this policy may be disqualified.
  

Logistics:

• Entries will be accepted via this submission platform, Duosuma. When entering your information on Duosuma, you will have the option to send your book either electronically or by mail.
• For electronic entries, you will also be required to upload a PDF image of the book cover.
• For those who prefer to send physical copies by mail, please send two copies to:
  M.P. Carver, English Department
  Salem State University
  352 Lafayette Street
  Salem, MA 01970
• Entry fee: $50 for presses, $30 for individuals entering their own books or presses publishing fewer than 10 titles per year. Presses and individuals are welcome to submit multiple titles. Each title must be submitted separately a new entry fee.
• Entries will be accepted until February 15, 2027 at 11:59 EST. We anticipated announcing the winner by May 15, 2027.
• Please enter a cover letter in Duosuma. In your cover letter, please confirm:
  --the publication date or anticipated publication date of the collection
  --that you currently live in New England, or have lived in New England in the past for at least one year
  --that the book will be eligible to order for the Massachusetts Poetry Festival July 31st and August 1st, 2027, and if you anticipate being able to attend.