National Poetry Series

ABOUT

The National Poetry Series was founded in 1978 to identify and publish outstanding but unheralded poetry manuscripts, and it has since become one of the most prestigious open-call book prizes in American poetry. Each year the Series selects five winning manuscripts, which are published by participating trade and university presses — over its history these have included Beacon Press, Akashic Books, Milkweed Editions, Penguin, and the University of Georgia Press. Selections are made by a rotating panel of established poets serving as judges for each participating press. The Series has a well-documented track record of launching major careers: Billy Collins's 'Questions About Angels,' selected by Edward Hirsch in 1990, is frequently cited as a turning point in his public recognition, and poets including Natasha Trethewey and others have come through the program early in their careers. Endorsements from figures like Mark Strand, Charles Simic, and John Ashbery attest to its outsized influence relative to its small annual output of five books.

For a poet, the practical draw is straightforward: win, and a full-length manuscript gets a guaranteed publisher and the imprimatur of the Series. Because each of the five slots is tied to a specific participating press with its own judge, manuscripts are effectively being read for fit with that press's list as well as on merit. The site does not post current entry fees, page-count limits, or exact submission windows on its main pages, so poets should check the official guidelines each year rather than assume terms carry over — historically the Series has run an annual open submission period with a modest reading fee, but that detail isn't confirmed here. Winners are announced once a year (the 2025 winners were named as Hajjar Baban, Stephanie Horvath, Weston Morrow, Kira Alexis Tucker, and Yi Wei), and the primary compensation is the publishing contract itself rather than a disclosed cash prize.