The Wisconsin People & Ideas Poetry Contest

Submission Window Open: JANUARY 15, 2026

Entry fee: $10 Academy members / $15 non-members

Submission Deadline: MARCH 15, 2026
 

Prizes 

• 1st-place winners of the Wisconsin People & Ideas Poetry Contest will receive a five-day artist residency at Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts in Mineral Point.
• Cash prizes of $500 for 1st place, $250 for 2nd place, and $100  for 3rd place will be awarded.
• All winners are invited to read their work at the Wisconsin Book Festival in October 2026.
• All winning poems will be published in print and online issues of Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine. 
• Honorable mention poems selected by the lead judge may be published in subsequent issues of the magazine.
   

Eligibility 

• Authors must be age 18 or older and reside or attend school in Wisconsin.
• All submissions must be original and previously unpublished work. Authors attest that they are the sole authors of the work and that AI was not implemented in its creation. 

• Current Wisconsin Academy staff, board, and Foundation board members are not eligible. If you have questions about eligibility, please be in touch: [email protected].
   

Poetry Guidelines

• Format one (1) poem per page; up to three (3) poems per submission. 
• Submission must be typed, single-spaced. Please do not include your name on the manuscript pages. Poems are judged anonymously. 
• Use a 12-point, clearly readable font. For example: Times New Roman, Garamond, etc.
• Limit to 45 lines maximum per poem (including lines between stanzas). 
• You may submit multiple entries - each additional entry requires paying a contest fee. 
• Limit to 45 lines maximum per poem (including lines between stanzas).
• Cover page must include 

1. ​author's name 
2. address
3. phone number 
4. email address 
5. poem titles  

 

 

Poetry Contest Judge: Brenda Cárdenas

Meet this year's judge!

Brenda Cárdenas is the current Wisconsin Poet Laureate, Professor Emerita of English at UW-Milwaukee,

the author of many publications and recipient of myriad awards.

Learn more here. 

 

 

Contest Submission

Click the button to register for the 2026 writing contest. After registering and paying the entry fee, you will receive a confirmation email (from [email protected]) with a link. Use the link to submit your work via an online portal called AirTable.  
 

Enter the Poetry Contest!

Paper Mail-In Option

If you are able, we encourage you to submit online.

• To mail your work, use the above Poetry Guidelines. Include a check for payment.  
• Paper submissions must be postmarked, delivered, or date-stamped by 11:59 pm on the contest due date. Submissions postmarked or hand-delivered after the deadline will not be considered and the entry fee will be retained to cover handling.

• Keep a copy of your manuscript. Paper manuscripts will be recycled, not returned. 

• Every contestant must be able to provide an electronic version of their manuscript by email if needed.
   

Entries may be mailed or hand-delivered to 

Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts & Letters
1922 University Avenue
Madison, WI 53726