The 2026 Cave Canem Prize | How to Apply ($10,000 + Publication)

Apr 15, 2025 Chinaza James-Ibe

Call for Submissions: 2026 Cave Canem Prize

Deadline: May 8, 2025 | Prize: $10,000 + Publication by University of Georgia Press

Cave Canem invites Black poets to submit their debut full-length poetry manuscripts for the 2026 Cave Canem Prize, an annual award dedicated to supporting the careers of emerging Black voices in poetry. This prestigious prize offers not only a $10,000 cash award, but also publication by the University of Georgia Press, 15 author copies, and a feature reading.

About the Cave Canem Prize

Since its inception, the Cave Canem Prize has launched the careers of some of the most compelling Black poets writing today. It exists to offer a direct publishing route to leading literary publishers—Graywolf Press, University of Pittsburgh Press, and University of Georgia Press—and help poets share their voices with a broader audience.

The 2026 winning manuscript will be published by University of Georgia Press in Fall 2026.

Eligibility Requirements for the Cave Canem Prize

Open to Black poets who identify as members of the African Diaspora
Manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and written in English
Applicants must not have previously published a full-length poetry book through a professional press
Chapbooks and self-published works (print-run of 500 or fewer) are allowed
Poets may submit simultaneously to other contests but must notify Cave Canem if their manuscript is accepted elsewhere

Note: Current/former students, colleagues, family, and close friends of the judge are ineligible, as are those affiliated with Cave Canem Foundation or University of Georgia Press.

Submission Guidelines

Submit one manuscript only via Submittable
Accepted file formats: .docx or .pdf
Manuscript should include:
- Title page (title only)
- Table of contents
- 60–75 pages, paginated
- No more than one poem per page
- No author name should appear in the document
Include a cover letter in Submittable’s text box, not in the manuscript file
- Cover letter should include a 200-word bio and acknowledgments of previously published poems
No revisions allowed after submission
Adhere strictly to the guidelines to avoid disqualification.