The Finding Persephone Poetry Competition
The Persephone Foundation
About our organisation
The Persephone Foundation and its Finding Persephone initiatives are focused on healing, growth, and the regeneration of mind, body, and spirit.
We celebrate and nurture creative regeneration through the arts, communication, and practical magic.
Programme Overview
The goal of the Finding Persephone initiative is to uplift both femininity, and the arts. This competition aims to do both.
The Finding Persephone Poetry Competition is looking for poetry that explores what femininity means to you. All gender identities are welcome to submit.
The competition will be judged by Aotearoa poets Hera Lindsay Bird, Tayi Tibble, and Cadence Chung.
Find the full submission guidelines at www.findingpersephone.org
Prize Pool
First prize - $2,500
Second prize - $1,000
Third prize - $500
Additional spot prizes to be awarded
How to apply
- Email your submission to info@findingpersephone.org
- Please use “Poetry Contest 2026” as the subject line of your email.
- Submit one previously unpublished poem of any length in a single Microsoft Word (.docx) document.
- Please title the document with your full name.
- In the body of your email, include a third-person bio of around 50 words.
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- Poems can be any form, style, or length.
- We do not allow simultaneous submissions.
- We will accept poems that have previously been featured on your personal social media.
- We only accept submissions from those residing within or otherwise significantly connected to Aotearoa.
- We will not accept poetry that was in any way created or informed by generative A.I.
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Accepted poems may be published by The Persephone Foundation both digitally and in print, though ownership of the work will always remain with the poet.
