2026 Poetry Roundup
National Book Award Longlist Leads Major Poetry Events and Releases Across 2026
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Four of the 2026 National Book Award for Poetry longlisted books come from independent publishers, while three are issued by university presses. Four longlisted poets are past National Book Award honorees: Victoria Chang, Brenda Hillman, Fady Joudah and Layli Long Soldier.
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Curt G. Curtin’s collection is explicitly framed as “a book of poems, not a treatise on science”; its scientific references—including the Milky Way, the Big Bang, string theory, neutrinos and fossils—serve as starting points for meditations on belief, mortality and meaning.
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REELpoetry will run in person from Sept. 18–20 and online from Sept. 21–25, with on-demand access available through Nov. 15. The program includes a Texas program, an ASL showcase, and world and U.S. premieres.
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M.J. Gomez says the poem “Study of Daylight” uses a lack of punctuation to create breathlessness and frantic energy, with white-space pauses replacing traditional punctuation; he also describes faith as a continuing “push and pull” shaped by his struggle to reconcile Muslim belief with doubt.
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The Willow Springs Magazine Surrealist Poetry Prize requires a $15 entry fee, permits up to three poems, and has a Sept. 15 deadline; Michael Hettich will serve as the final judge.
Poetry is getting major attention in 2026, with prestigious awards, international festivals, and publishing opportunities launching across the year. The National Book Foundation has revealed its 10 longlisted poets for the National Book Award for Poetry, with finalists arriving in October and winners announced in November Book Riot. Four of the longlisted poets have won or been honored by the National Book Award before, including Victoria Chang, Brenda Hillman, Fady Joudah, and Layli Long Soldier.
Beyond the major literary prizes, poets can submit work to festivals, enter prize competitions, and read about new collections exploring science, spirituality, and emotion. The REELpoetry International Poetry Film Festival will bring spoken-word performances and premieres to audiences both in person and online, while raising money for displaced children in Ukraine.
A Posthumous Collection Blending Science With the Soul
Curt G. Curtin's collection Weaving Science and Soul stands out on the National Book Award longlist by bringing together three unlikely worlds: scientific ideas, spirituality, and nature. The book is structured in three sections that take readers on an inward and outward journey through grief, mortality, and meaning. Curtin's work is explicitly framed as a poem collection, not a science textbook—his references to the Big Bang, the Milky Way, string theory, neutrinos, and fossils serve as starting points for deeper meditations on belief and life's biggest questions.
REELpoetry Festival Spans Nine Days Across Two Formats
The REELpoetry International Poetry Film Festival will run in person from September 18–20 and online from September 21–25, with on-demand access continuing through November 15 Book Riot. The program includes world premieres, U.S. premieres, spoken-word performances, an American Sign Language showcase, and a special Texas program. Beyond entertaining audiences, the festival supports a poetry outreach effort for displaced children in Ukraine, connecting international poetry communities to humanitarian work.
Poet M.J. Gomez on Punctuation, Faith, and Creative Doubt
Poet M.J. Gomez explores the power of musicality in his collection Love Letters from a Burning Planet, where form shapes meaning as much as words do. In his poem "Study of Daylight," Gomez strips away traditional punctuation to create a breathless, frantic energy—white-space pauses replace commas and periods. Gomez describes faith in his work as a continuing "push and pull," shaped by his struggle to balance Muslim belief with doubt and uncertainty.
Willow Springs Magazine Opens Poetry Prize Submissions
Writers looking for a publication opportunity and award money should consider the Willow Springs Magazine Surrealist Poetry Prize. The competition accepts up to three poems per entry for a $15 fee, with a September 15 deadline. The final judge is poet Michael Hettich. Winners receive publication in the magazine plus a $1,000 award, making it an accessible way for emerging and established poets to reach a wider audience.
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