Cave Canem Prize 2026 for Black Poets ($10000 prize)

The Cave Canem Prize is awarded annually to the best debut collection of poems by a Black poet. At some point, all poets face the challenge of communicating their work beyond the first manuscript. To assist Black poets in surmounting that obstacle, Cave Canem established the Prize and created a direct route to Graywolf Press; University of Pittsburgh Press, and University of Georgia Press.

Eligibility Criteria for Cave Canem Prize 2026 for Black Poets ($10000 prize)

All unpublished, original collections of poems written in English by Black poets who have not had a full-length book of poetry published by a professional press. Cave Canem defines Black poets as any poet who identifies as a member of the African Diaspora.

Black authors of chapbooks and self-published books with a maximum print run of 500 copies are also eligible to apply.

Please note that in the event that an applicant has submitted the same manuscript to other competitions and receives an award, they must disclose this information to Cave Canem. By applying, the Cave Canem Prize Winner agrees to be present in the continental United States at her or his own expense shortly after the book is published in order to participate in promotional readings.

Exclusions

Current or former students, colleagues, employees, family members, and close friends of the judge; current or former employees and members of the board of Cave Canem Foundation or Graywolf Press; and authors who have published a book or have a book under contract with Graywolf Press are ineligible.

If any of the selected authors fall under the above exclusions, they will be disqualified and a replacement will be chosen. As the poetry community is small and the contest is judged without knowledge of the submitter’s identity, acquaintance with the judge or participation in a workshop taught by the judge are not disqualifying criteria.

Benefits of Cave Canem Prize 2026 for Black Poets ($10000 prize)

Award: The winner receives $10,000, a publication by University of Georgia Press in Fall 2026, 15 copies of the book, and a feature reading.

How to Apply

1. Manuscripts must be submitted via Submittable. Hard copy submissions will not be considered.
2. One manuscript per poet.
3. Upload the manuscript as a .docx or .pdf document. Include a title page with the title only and a table of contents. The author's name should not appear on any pages within the uploaded document.
4. Include a cover letter in the Submittable text box—DO NOT include it within the .docx or .pdf document of the manuscript. The cover letter should include the author’s brief bio (200 words, maximum) and a list of acknowledgments of previously published poems.
5. Manuscripts must be paginated and 60-75 pages in length, inclusive of the title page and table of contents. A poem may be multiple pages, but no more than one poem per page is permitted.
6. Manuscripts not adhering to submission guidelines will not be considered.
7. Post-submission revisions or corrections are not permitted.

Questions? Contact us at programs@ccpoets.org.

Application Deadline

Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET.

For More information on the Cave Canem Prize

Application Link(s)

• Apply for Cave Canem Prize 2026 for Black Poets ($10000 prize)