The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize 2026

Overview

The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize welcomes submissions from Australian poets in any walk of life. Now in its 27th year, the Prize honours the legacy of Bruce Dawe OAM. Whether you are a new or an established poet, you may submit up to five poems for a chance to win $3,000 (winner) or one of two $500 highly commended awards.

The 2026 call for competition entries is now open for the Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize.

Deadline
22 September 2026

Word Count
Your poem/s must not exceed 50 lines. However, there are no thematic or style constraints.

Description
Submit between one and five poems for The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize.

Entry Fee
$8.00 for each poem, payable upon entry to the competition.

Prizes
The 2026 winner of The Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize will receive $3,000, and two highly commended entrants will be awarded $500 each.

For more information, contact BruceDawePoetryPrize@unisq.edu.au