OREGON POETRY ASSOCIATION 2026 SUMMER POETRY CONTEST
Begins: May 11, 2026
Ends: June 25, 2026
Winners will be announced early August 2026 and invited to read at the Festival in late August.
CATEGORIES
Limit: one poem per category (no duplicates).
1) OREGON "Poet’s Choice": one poem / two pages maximum, any subject, any form. Entrant must have current Oregon mailing address.
Judge: Dale Champlin
The document file name should be: Category-Title, for example: Poets Choice-The Waste Land
2) "Members Only": one poem / one page maximum, any subject, any form. Entrant must be a current OPA member.
Judge: Marc Janssen
The document file name should be: Category-Title, for example: Members Only-This Is Just to Say
3) "Emerging Poet": one poem / one page maximum, any form. Poet must not have any published, accepted, or self-published poetry chapbooks or books. Open to anyone who has poems published in poetry journals (print or online) or never been published.
Judge: Eleanor Berry
The document file name should be: Category-Title, for example: Emerging Poet-The Second Coming
4) "Theme"—Poetry of Endurance, Resilience, Strength, & Rarity: one poem / one page maximum, any form on the theme.
Judge: Emmett Wheatfall
The document file name should be: Category-Title, for example: Theme-Dover Beach
AWARDS
OREGON Poets Choice: 1st place $150; 2nd place $100; 3rd place $70; up to 3 Honorable Mentions.
All other categories: 1st place $100; 2nd place $70; 3rd place $50; up to 3 Honorable Mentions.
All 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will be published on OPA’s website and in next year's Verseweavers, OPA’s annual print anthology, and may be included in an OPA newsletter or social media posting.
ENTRY FEE
OPA members: Flat rate of $9 for up to four poems (limit one poem per category).
Non-members: Flat rate of $18 for up to three poems (limit one poem per category).
DEADLINE
Entries must be submitted via Submittable by June 25, 2026, 11:59pm PST, at which time poems will be made available to the judges.
CONTEST GUIDELINES – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY, AS MANY HAVE CHANGED FROM PRIOR YEARS. (Entries not in compliance with these guidelines will be disqualified; entry fees non-refundable.)
1. Poems entered must be entrant’s original work, unpublished online or in print, and may not have been a prior winner in any contest. Self-published books/collections, blogs, social media, and personal website postings are considered published.
2. Poets may only submit one poem per category. Page limits are one page for all categories except Oregon Poet’s Choice which has a two-page limit.
3. If entering multiple categories, each poem must be submitted in a separate document. The document file name should be: Category-Title, for example: Poets Choice-The Waste Land; Members Only-This Is Just to Say; Emerging Poet-The Second Coming; Theme-Dover Beach.
4. Submit poems in 12-point Times New Roman font, standard 1-inch margins. Format as .doc or .docx. No PDF files.
5. At the top of each poem, identify the category.
6. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but if a poem is accepted elsewhere, entrant must notify OPA immediately and withdraw the poem via a Submittable message.
7. Poet’s name/contact information should NOT appear anywhere on the poems entered or in file names. Poems are read blind.
8. Online submissions only at https://opa.submittable.com.
9. If you join OPA at the time you enter, you are eligible for the Member rate and the Members Only category.
10. Poems may not be edited and re-submitted. Submission is final.
11. Members may submit up to four poems (three, if a non-resident of Oregon), limited to one poem per category.
12. Non-members may submit up to three poems (two, if a non-resident), limited to one poem per category.
13. Non-residents of Oregon may submit up to three poems (two, if a non-member), limited to one poem per category.
14. OPA claims first North American Rights to winning poems. All rights revert to author upon print publication in Verseweavers. OPA reserves the right to use prizewinning poems on the OPA website, membership forms, etc. If a poem is subsequently reprinted, please acknowledge OPA and Verseweavers as the original publisher.
The Oregon Poetry Association is proud to announce our 70th Anniversary Celebration, in-person on August 28-29, 2026 at the Salem Convention Center.
Join us to experience Poetry of Endurance, Resilience, Strength, & Rarity.
We’ll connect over workshops and open-mic sessions, hear from a keynote, and gather together in community.
Hotel
There are several places to stay in Salem, even perhaps with a friend or colleague. Salem may be drivable for many so perhaps you don't need a hotel room. Here's some Salem hotels to check, with estimated rates:
The Grand Hotel 503-540-7800 grandhotelslem.com 201 Liberty St SE ~$190
Holman River Front 971-900-5560 thehotelholman.com 195 Commercial St SE ~$220
Holiday Inn 503-370-7888 ihg.com 3301 Market St NE ~$140
Best Western Plus Mill 503-585-3332 bestwestern.com 3125 Ryan Dr SE ~$130
La Quinta Inn 971-374-2851 wyndhamhotels.com 890 Hawthorn Ave SE ~$120
Comfort Suites 871-345-5276 choicehotels.com 630 Hawthorn Ave SE ~$120
Hampton inn 503-362-1300 hilton.com 510 Hawthorn Ave SE ~$135
Double Tree 971-910-8610 hilton.com 1590 Weston Ct NE ~$130
Conference Schedule (draft)
Friday, August 28, 2026
Conference Check-in Opens at 2PM
Early workshops (same as some of the Saturday Workshops): 3:30-4:45 PM
Reception & President's Welcome: 5-5:45 PM
Free Time: 5:45-7 PM
Open Mic and Slam Winner/UO/Contest Winners: 7-10 PM
Saturday, August 29, 2025
Breakfast Buffett: 7-8 AM
Opening Keynote: 8:10AM - 8:45 - TBA
Workshops 1A & 1B & 1C: 9-10:15 AM
Workshops 2A & 2B & 2C: 10:30-11:45 PM
Lunch Buffett & Annual General Meeting: 12-1:30 PM
Workshops 3A & 3B & 3C: 1:45-3 PM
Workshops 4A & 4B & 4C: 3:15-4:30 PM
Closing Open Mic: 4:45PM
Closing Remarks: 6:25PM
Do You Have a Favorite Anecdote of OPA History? Share It With This Form:
We can't wait to see us gather together!
Thank you for for supporting poetry in Oregon. Your generous contribution may go to the Youth Contest, Spanish Contest, Adult Contest, Conference, or Special Workshops & Poetry Event.
Memberships last for one year. Thank you for supporting the Oregon Poetry Association.
Memberships last for two years. Thank you for supporting the Oregon Poetry Association.
Memberships last for one year. Thank you for supporting Oregon Poetry Association.