UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

August 13 (Thursday) @ 6pm-7:30pm ET – Virtual Poetry Open Mic hosted by Bianca Amira Zanella, a queer Vermont poet and artist. Free to attend; register for Zoom link.
 
August 15 (Saturday) @ 2pm ET – The monthly CT Poetry Society Workshop, hosted by our very own Ed Ahern, which takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Wilton Public Library in the Rimer Room, located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton, CT. Bring a poem to share with the group for critique. Free to attend; registration required.
 
August 18 (Tuesday) @ 5pm-6pm ET – Merrill Fellow, Corey Van Landingham, to read at Bank Square Books, located at 80 Stonington Road in Mystic, CT with an introduction by Rick Koster. She is a James Merrill Fellow and award-winning poet. Free to attend; RSVP encouraged.
 
August 21 (Friday) @ 6pm-8pm ET – Live at the Factory: Poetry Night with headliners Frederick-Douglass Knowle II and Elizabeth Thomas. Located outdoors at Ball & Socket Arts, 493 West Main Street in Cheshire, CT. Emcee Pat Mottola, followed by an open mic. Bring lawn chairs and a picnic and enjoy some outdoor poetry. Free to attend.
 
August 24 (Monday) @ 11am ET - War-Torn Voices: Ukrainian Women's Poetry Anthology released by Linen Press 2026. Some of the Ukrainian women poets published within this anthology are hoping to be with us live to read their own poems. For the poets who can't be there in person because their country is under Russian bombardment, poets from the UK and US will read for them. Some of the poets are fighting on the front line, some working in aid shelters, others are in hiding. Ruth Padel will introduce the event and editor Daoud Sarhandi-Williams will join on a phone link. Free to attend; registration required for the link.
 
August 27 (Thursday) @ 3pm-4:30pm ET – Free Writing Workshop with poet Amy Segerstrom. You'll have time to write, reflect and share in community. Register for the Zoom link at ZenfulConversations.com to secure your space.
 
August 30 (Sunday) @ 1pm-3pm ET – Zoom Workshop: Poetry as Presence, hosted by Artability/People Incorporated. This closing workshop guides writers through mindfulness, sensory detail, and slow observation as tools for creating poetry. Free to attend, but registration required; spots limited.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: 2026 Grayson Books Poetry Contest
Deadline: August 15, 2026
Submit 50-90 page poetry book manuscript with title page and table of contents. Blind read. Simultaneous submissions ok. $26 reading fee to enter. The winner will be awarded a $1,000 prize, publication, and 10 copies. The runner-up may also be offered publication. 
 
Publisher: The Fairy Tale Magazine: Food in Fairy Tales
Deadline: August 15-21, 2026
Up to 500 words for poems. Intended audience is for adults, but keep ratings PG. No fee to submit; payment of $25.
 
Publisher: PRAx, Spring Creek Project and Terrain.org 
Deadline: August 26, 2026
Poets are invited to create original poems in response to a selection of polar science papers from Oregon State University researchers. Poems may engage with the science directly or indirectly. They may be personal, lyrical, narrative, experimental, contemplative, or playful. Send up to 3 poems. Selected poems will be published in a series in Terrain.org and poets will receive $100 from Spring Creek Project for each selected piece. Selected poets may also be invited to participate in a public reading at PRAx on October 29, 2026. PRAx will provide lodging on the night of the event, a travel stipend of up to $1,000 and dinner with polar researchers following the event. 
 
Publisher: Not/Feeling Better anthology
Deadline: August 29, 2026
This anthology is about living with disabilities/chronic illnesses; the theme is Not/Feeling Better. Works can be “any genre, but this book will be distributed to schools and community copies so please be mindful of the audience”. They also say this about their anthologies: “All royalties from the anthology will be donated to charity. All authors whose pieces are selected for publication will receive £10 and a free copy of the anthology; however, there is an opportunity to waive this so the cash payment can be donated to that particular anthology’s charity. Once published, the anthology will be available widely and will also be donated for free to secondary schools across the UK.
 
Publisher: Sea Crow Press
Deadline: None listed
Looking for poetry manuscripts to publish, this small press based in Cape Cod, Massachusetts focuses on publishing poetry with a clear focus on eco-literature, regional writing, and climate-aware storytelling. Send 10 poems to represent your manuscript as a whole. It is a woman-owned press and their collections are distributed by Simon & Schuster. Sim subs ok. No fee to submit; royalty payment for accepted collection.
 
Publisher: Cabbage Patch Literary Magazine
Deadline: None listed
Poets may submit up to five poems. They’re looking for “strange hybrid things.” No word count limits; reprints welcome. Free to submit; no payment.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

July 13 (Monday) @ 3pm-4:30pm ET – Richard Blanco, the first Latinx, immigrant, and gay poet to serve as a Presidential Inaugural Poet, will present a generative workshop titled "Poetics of Protest." It will be in person in the Garden, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, 152 Main St., Ridgefield, Connecticut. In this workshop, participants will read exemplary poems of protest, both historical and contemporary, and explore various strategies poets employ to turn outrage into art. Then they’ll write their own. Attendance limited. Workshop fee: $125.

July 13 (Monday) @ 7pm ET – Richard Blanco and Sonia Guinansaca will present a FREE reading at Poetry in the Garden, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, 152 Main St., Ridgefield, Connecticut. All readings are held in the museum's historic walled garden but move inside the Garden House in the event of rain or extreme heat. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. Accessible venue.
 
July 18 (Saturday) @ 2pm ET – The monthly CT Poetry Society Workshop, hosted by our very own Ed Ahern, which takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Wilton Public Library in the Rimer Room, located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton, CT. Bring a poem to share with the group for critique. Free to attend; registration required.
 
July 20 (Monday) @ 3pm-4:30pm ET - Sean Thomas Dougherty will present a workshop titled "Poetry as the Art of Care." Participants will narrate their own experience of caring for parents, children, the disabled, those we love and perhaps even those who’ve caused us harm. Attendance limited. Located at the Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, 152 Main St., Ridgefield, CT. Workshop fee: $125.
 
July 20 (Monday) @ 7pm ET - Sean Thomas Dougherty and Charles Rafferty will present a FREE reading at Poetry in the Garden, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, 152 Main St., Ridgefield, CT. All readings are held in the museum's historic walled garden but move inside the Garden House in the event of rain/extreme heat. Bring a lawn chair/blanket. Accessible venue.
 
July 27 (Monday) @ 3pm-4:30pm ET - Cornelius Eady will present a generative workshop titled "What the Poem Wants." In this workshop, Cornelius will help you explore the question of what the poem wants through exercises, examples, and an informed talk. Located at the Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, 152 Main St., Ridgefield, CT. Attendance limited. Workshop fee: $125.
 
July 27 (Monday) @ 7pm ET - Cornelius Eady, Marilyn Nelson, and the Cornelius Eady Trio will present a FREE reading/performance at Poetry in the Garden, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, 152 Main St., Ridgefield, CT. All readings are held in the museum's historic walled garden but move inside the Garden House in the event of rain or extreme heat. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket. Accessible venue.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: The Orange & Bee
Deadline: July 14, 2026 (Australian time)
They are looking for poems that engage in a significant way with the long history of fairy tales. Submit one poem of up to 50 lines. No reading fee; payment of $50 US for poetry.
 
Publisher: Ragaire Literary Journal
Deadline: July 15, 2026, or until filled
Based in Ireland, they are looking for submission of up to 3 poems, each poem of no more than 40 lines. No reading fee; payment of €80 per poem.
 
Publisher: Plott Hound
Deadline: July 15, 2026
Sub up to 5 poems at a time. This is a magazine of speculative fiction with anthropomorphized animals as viewpoint characters and protagonists. They also welcome translations. They publish one essay per issue, as well. No reading fee; payment of $50 per poem on publication.
 
Publisher: The Deadlands
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Seeking speculative poetry that touches on death in some way, including grief, hauntings, and history.  They welcome both formal and experimental poetry.” Send up to 3 poems. No reading fee; $50 paid per accepted poem.
 
Publisher: The Rumpus
Deadline: No deadline specified
Submit 4-8 poems at a time. They enjoy the unexpected and sometimes experimental. No reading fee; payment of $200 for poetry.
 
Publisher: The Scribes Prize
Deadline: October 1, 2026
Now in its 4th year, The Scribes Prize is accepting entries of very short pieces of fiction, creative nonfiction, and prose poetry (90-110 words). 18 pieces will receive award seals and be published in the 64th issue of ScribesMICRO: the top prize will receive $250, second prize $125, third prize $60, and 15 honorable mentions of $20 each. All entrants will receive feedback from 2 editors. Each submission has a $5 entry fee, with a maximum of 3 submissions per author. Reprints and simultaneous submissions are welcome.
 
Publisher: Prolific Pulse Press
Deadline: December 31, 2026
Recommended by Ed. The press just reopened for submissions. Prolific Pulse Press LLC is accepting submissions for poetry chapbooks (at least 12 poems), full poetry manuscripts (at least 25% previously published in magazines/anthologies), short story manuscripts, children's books, and novellas. Free to submit. NO sim subs. Contracts are standard and include a royalty payment plan with no advance.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

​June 16 (Tuesday) @ 6:15pm-8pm – Poetry/Storytelling Writing Workshop with Barb Jennes. Theme: What You Couldn't Say Before: Stories from Our Lives. Barb will demonstrate how painful, personal, potentially explosive truths are the very best fodder for your work! Located at Molten Java, 213 Greenwood Avenue in Bethel, CT. Free to attend; donations welcome.
 
June 17 (Wednesday) @ 6pm-7:30pm ET – Poetry Open Mic Night hosted by Poet Laureate Katie Baker. Join us to share some original or your favorite poetry in front of a supportive audience! Or just pop in and listen. Theme: identity (Themes are for inspiration, but are not required to follow). Located in the Library Gallery Space at the Woodbury Public Library, 269 Main Street South, in Woodbury, CT. Free to attend.
 
June 18 (Thursday) @ 7pm-10pm ET – Open Mic Night at Factory Underground Studio, located at 16 Isaacs Street in Norwalk, CT. All Acts welcome: Music, Poetry, Comedy, Spoken Word, etc. Doors/signup for open mic at 6:30pm. Each performance must be 6 minutes long.
 
June 20 (Saturday) @ 2pm ET – The monthly CT Poetry Society Workshop, hosted by our very own Ed Ahern, which takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Wilton Public Library in the Rimer Room, located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton, CT. Bring a poem to share with the group for critique. Free to attend; registration required.
 
June 22 (Monday) @ 7pm ET – The CT Poetry Society presents Poets on Poetry with Tina Cane. An online event on the theme of Not About Gratitude: Poetry in a Fractured World. Free to attend; registration required for Zoom link. 
 
June 27 (Saturday) @ 11am-12pm ET – Blue Rivers Summer Poetry Reading Series presents an online opportunity to read poetry and build community. Each session will begin with readings from poets published on Blue Rivers, followed by additional attendees to read as space allows. Free to attend; registration required for the link.
 
June 28 (Sunday) @ 2pm-4pm ET – East Hartford launches their Inaugural Poet Laureate, Elizabeth Thomas. This event is being held at the Wickham Memorial Library at 656 Burnside Avenue in East Hartford, CT. There will be music, refreshments, door prizes, and poetry. Anyone can bring a short poem (1 page or less) to read at the open mic.

July 6 (Monday) @ 3pm EST - Patricia Spears Jones will present a 90-minute generative workshop titled "Working Words." Says Patricia: “Poetry is all about vocabulary. It’s all about words—which ones, how they are placed, what will be the poem’s tonal landscape.” In this workshop, participants will use two different vocabulary prompts, one adapted from David Rivard and one Patricia developed from Walt Whitman’s language in Democratic Vistas. You’ll leave with drafts of at least two poems and prompts that can be reused as needed. Register early; attendance limited. Workshop fee: $125. More info at https://keelertavernmuseum.org/events/.

July 6 (Monday) @ 7pm EST - Patricia Spears Jones and January Gill O'Neil will present a FREE  reading at Poetry in the Garden, Keeler Tavern Museum & History Center, 152 Main St., Ridgefield, CT. All readings are held in the museum's historic walled garden but move inside the Garden House in the event of rain or extreme heat. Please bring a lawn chair or blanket. Accessible venue. More info at https://keelertavernmuseum.org/events/.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: Regeneration: Poetry Exploring the Environment
Deadline: June 28, 2026
Sub one poem up to 100 lines or 750 words (whichever is lower). Send a poem exploring people and nature, answering the overall title of ‘Regeneration.’ Free to enter. 1st prize: £200, 2nd prize: £100, Special mentions at the judges’ discretion.
 
Publisher: Chicken Soup for the Soul
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Themes: “count your blessings.”
 
Publisher: THINK
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Sub up to 5 poems. Simultaneous submissions ok. Free to submit; 1 print copy as payment.
 
Publisher: RHINO
Deadline: June 30, 2026
Send 3-5 poems totaling no more than 5 pages. Simultaneous submissions ok. All accepted poems are automatically considered for the Editors’ Prize; they often award a Translation Prize as well. Accepted poets will receive one copy of the issue featuring their poem.
 
Publisher: Wells Festival of Literature’s International Creative Writing Competitions 2026
Deadline: June 30, 2026
The fee for each separate entry is £8. Prizes for Open Poetry: £1000, £500, £250. Prize for Young Poets: £200, £150, £100 + a year’s subscription to The Poetry Society
 
Publisher: Mslexia
Deadline: July 6, 2026
A UK-based journal for women writers. Send up to 4 poems of up to 40 lines each. Simultaneous submissions ok. Blind read. Payments start at £30, and all contributors receive a complimentary copy of the magazine.  
 
Publisher: The Origami Poems Project
Deadline: Accept year-round.
Submit work of 1-6 poems for a micro chapbook. Each microchap "page" has 47 characters per line, including spaces, with room for 25-27 lines. For long-lined pieces, three (3) reading pages are available with 107 characters per line. No submission fee; no payment.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

May 9 (Saturday, TODAY) @ 10am-3pm ET – The Branford Book Festival is one of Connecticut’s largest book fairs and will be on Main Street in Branford, CT. More than 60 authors and 36 shops will be on hand, including the Poets’ Salon very own Mary Keating.
 
May 12 (Tuesday) @ 6:30pm ET – Poetry reading the second Tuesday of every month at Black Rock Books at 3030 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, CT, with our very own Poets’ Salon Edward Ahern reading his poetry, as well as Janet Krauss, Mary Keating, Vince Convertito, Adam Weisblatt, Lisa Seidenberg, and other great local poets. Free to attend; $5 suggested donation at the door. RSVP requested.
 
May 14 (Thursday) @ 6pm-7:30pm ET – The Ekphrastic Review presents the online book release of Radio Free Nebraska in an online event celebrating the creators Brent Terry and Lorette C. Luzajic with readings and a community chat. Free to attend; sign up at the website for the Zoom link.
 
May 16 (Saturday) @ 2pm ET – The monthly CT Poetry Society Workshop, hosted by our very own Ed Ahern, which takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Wilton Public Library in the Rimer Room, located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton, CT. Bring a poem to share with the group for critique. Free to attend; registration required.
 
May 19-22 (Tuesday-Friday) @ various times ET – Poetry By the Sea is a global conference celebrating poetry at the Mercy Conference Center, located at 167 Neck Road in Madison, CT. Depending on what you’d like to attend, the costs vary – how many days you’d like to go, what you’re going to, what meals you will eat, if you’re staying onsite, etc. The conference includes various speakers and workshops, including keynote speaker Stephanie Burt and workshops run by David Groff, David M. Katz, Joshua Mehigan, Chad Abushanab, Melissa Balmain, Allison Joseph, Dustin Brookshire, Nicole Caruso Garcia, Matt W. Miller, Clare Rossini, and Anna M. Evans.
 
May 20 (Wednesday) @ 7pm ET – Midnight Moonlight book launch by the fabulous Poets’ Salon member paul Bluestein. Free to attend; Zoom link HERE.
 
June 4 (Thursday) @ 6:30pm-8pm ET – Poetry as Witness: An Evening of Readings and Conversation with poets Daniela Naomi Molnar and Peter Cole. Both of their recent books perform a counterreading of sorts: of documents twisted by hatred, of histories that have been misread, suppressed, or weaponized. Together, Daniela and Peter will explore what it means to answer violence with language, and what poetry can hold that other forms of witness cannot. The evening will feature readings by both poets interspersed with a conversation moderated by Ayin Editorial Director Eden Pearlstein. Q&A to follow. Free to attend online; register for link.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: Pinhole Poetry
Deadline: May 15, 2026
Theme: subways, undercurrents, subtext and undertows. Submit up to 5 poems, each no longer than 2 pages. They prefer both lyric and narrative poetry, although they prefer lyrical. Sim subs okay. No fee to submit; $5 CAD payment per poet published.
 
Publisher: Free the Verse
Deadline: May 25, 2026
Theme: “If you say so.” Preferred formats seem to be free verse and experimental. Sim subs okay. Free to submit; payment of $10 per published poem.
 
Publisher: Heartlines Spec
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Theme: long-term relationships (platonic, romantic, or familial) within the speculative fiction genre. Send up to 5 poems at a time. Sim subs okay. Payment is $60 CAD per poem.
 
Publisher: Qwerty Magazine
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Theme: dark architecture and pseudoarchaeology. Submit up to 6 pages of poetry. Sim sub okay. Contributors receive $15 and 2 copies of the issue.
 
Publisher: Adi Magazine
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Theme: subversive rebellion against dominating political power. Send up to 5 poems at a time. Sim sub okay. Payment: $150 per poem.
 
Publisher: Portrait of New England
Deadline: May 31, 2026
Open for submissions for writers with current/former ties to New England. Submit 1-5 poems at a time. Sim subs okay. No fee to submit; no payment. For each issue, one writer will be highlighted.
 
Publisher: Chicken Soup for the Soul
Deadline: June 1, 2026
Theme: “best cat ever.” Accept poems of any type. No fee to submit; they pay for publication (amount unspecified).
 
Publisher: After Brunch Journal
Deadline: None
Submit poetry of up to 1k words. Looking for experimental work. Accepts reprints. Multiple submissions okay. No reading fee; no payment.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

April 12 (Sunday) @ 3pm-4:30pm ET – Finding Your Creative Voice in Difficult Times with John Fox, President of The Institute for Poetic Medicine. A poetry workshop where you dig into finding your creative and optimistic voice. Free to attend; registration required for the Zoom link.
 
April 16 (Thursday) @ 5pm-6pm ET – Dis Lit Collective is a BIPOC disability-led digital safe space and communal literary experience featuring storytelling, poetry, prose & art. Runs the third Thursday of each month and provides an immersive experience featuring interactive storytelling, live journaling, experiential narrative and art. April Theme: Drop In And Chat. What’s on your mind? Free to attend; registration required for the Zoom link.
 
April 18 (Saturday) @ 2pm-4pm ET – The CT Poetry Society Workshop is celebrating the publication of its new anthology Words at Play. Hosted by Ed Ahern, come join the poets as they read from their collection and invite discussion of poetry at the Wilton Public Library, located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton, CT in the Brubeck Room. Free to attend; registration required. They will be raffling off some of the books, and in addition to poets from the anthology reading their work, their will also be an open mic.
 
April 18-19 (Saturday-Sunday) @ 11am-4pm each day - CT Book Festivals Bookstore presents a 2-day festival event with many CT-based authors. Come for one or both days. Ask for the informational Zoom call recording if you miss it. Located at Westbrook Outlets, 314 Flat Rock Pl in Westbrook, CT. Come meet your favorite local author!
https://www.connecticutbookfestivals.com/event-details/connecticut-book-festivals-bookstore-at-westbrook-outlets

April 21 (Tuesday) @ 9am ET – Poetry and Tea Online with Lisa Andradez. Join this group for an inspiring online gathering of poets living with chronic illness to share and write poetry together. They will read poetry together, write poetry (if time allows), and chat about whatever is on their minds, and encourage one another to keep writing.
 
April 22 (Wednesday) @ noon-1pm ET – Max’s Writers Cafe: Micro Poetry & Prose with host Max Gardner. Make and take tiny poems and flash fiction with provided prompts (no instruction or critique). 18+. Free to attend; registration required for the Zoom link.
 
April 25 (Saturday) @ 1pm ET – An Afternoon with Mary Keating, located at the Barnes & Noble in Hartsdale: 381 North Central Ave #371, Hartsdale, NY. Book signing and chat with Mary Keating and her debut memoir in verse, Recalibrating Gravity.

April 28 (Tuesday) @ 7:30pm ET – The Academy of American Poets presents Poetry & the Creative Mind Benefit Reading and features Louise Erdrich, Coco Fusco, Nick Offerman, John Rothman, Maria Shriver, Evan Wang and Chloé Zhao. Free to attend; donations welcome; registration required.
 
April 29 (Wednesday) @ 12:30pm ET / May 2 (Saturday) @ 12:30pm ET / May 2 (Saturday) @ 8pm ET – Writing Sonnets with Fay Roberts. Want to learn how to write sonnets but think it’s too difficult or too late for you? Let this friendly, accessible workshop teach you how! Events are free to attend/pay what you can; register to receive the Zoom link.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Mary's Daily Haiku Challenge
Deadline: Every day in April
Celebrate national poetry month by writing a haiku a day! Led by Mary Keating on Facebook and using the word of the day for inspiration, compose a short poem to celebrate national poetry month and post it online to participate.

Publisher: Rattle
Deadline: April 15, 2026
Theme: the future—what it might look like, feel like, or become. Submit up to 4 poems at a time. Blind read. Free to sub; payment of $100-$200 per poem. 
 
Publisher: Consequence
Deadline: April 15, 2026
1-3 poems per sub. All subs need to address in some manner the consequences of war or geopolitical violence. Payment of $20-$50 per poem. No reading fee.
 
Publisher: Northern Spy
Deadline: April 23, 2026
Sim subs ok. Submit up to 3 poems. Free to submit; no payment.
 
Publisher: 149 Review
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Send 3-5 poems. Prefer experimental poetry. One poem every issue will receive the Craft Prize. No reading fee; no payment. Sim subs ok.
 
Publisher: Harbor Review
Deadline: April 30, 2026
Theme: savagery. Send 1-3 poems. Free to submit; payment of $10 per published poem. The editors also offer a separate critique service: $25 for 3 poems/$99 for 10 poems.
 
Publisher: 2026 confluence Poetry Prize
Deadline: May 1, 2026
Submit one Japanese short form poem on the theme of death and dying. They award $500 in total prize money for the best poems on this theme. Free to submit.
 
Publisher: Lucky Jefferson
Deadline: May 3, 2026
They want to publish work about social change, and they welcome new/debut writers. Send 3 poems at a time. Theme: paradox. Free to submit; payment of $25 upon publication.
 
Publisher: Bloodclot! Zine
Deadline: May 12, 2026
They’re looking for poems that explore the personal cost and existential dread that come with fighting a monolithic power. Poems should be 100-150 words. Payment of $10. Reprints ok.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

March 18 (Wednesday) @6pm EST – Wordhouse Reading Series presents Judith Liebmann and Jefferson Singer reading at the Noah Webster House, located at 227 South Main Street in West Hartford, CT. Free to attend; donations welcome.
 
March 18 (Wednesday) @6:30pm EST – Nadia Sims presents “Born From Breath: The Creator Series” with Poet Laureate Lynnette Johnson, an interview/performance followed by an open mic for dreamers. Located at Work_Space at 903 Main Street in Manchester, CT. Free to attend.
 
March 21 (Saturday) @ 11am-5pm – The Author Fair 2026 will feature 45 local authors, including the Poets’ Salon very own Mary Keating! Located at The Velvet Mill, 22 Bayview Avenue in Stonington, CT. Free to attend; family friendly.
 
March 21 (Saturday) @ 7pm-9pm EST – Poets at Large presents Christopher Reilley, former poet laureate for Dedham, MA, and Carla Schwartz, multi-published poet and filmmaker. Located at The Vanilla Bean Café, located at 450 Deerfield Road in Pomfret, CT. Contact [email protected] to be in the open mic afterward. $10 admission includes raffle.
 
March 22 (Sunday) @ 2pm EST – The CT Poetry Society Workshop, hosted by Ed Ahern, on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Wilton Public Library, located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton, CT in the Rimer Room. Bring a poem to share. Free to attend; registration required.
 
March 25 (Monday) @7pm EST – The Poets on Poetry (PoP) Series presents an online talk hosted by Amy Nawrocki exploring Philip Levine’s craft and examining his themes of work, memory, and resilience. Free to attend; registration required for the Zoom link.
 
March 29 (Sunday) @ 3pm EST – The Writers’ Factory at ReRead Books presents a poetry author talk with Cheshire Poet Laureate Pat Mottola and Chelsea Dodds, who will share their latest work and discuss the poetic process, with a Q&A and book signing to follow. Located at the Watch Factory, 106 Elm Street in Cheshire, CT. Free to attend; reservation requested.
 
April 1 (Wednesday) @ 6pm-8pm EST – Meet the Authors: Mary Donnarumma Sharnick (novels), Nicole Caruso Garcia (poetry), and Lisa Acerbo (romantasy books). A drink purchase of minimum $10 plus tax and gratuity per participant is required to attend. Located at Aquila’s Nest Vineyards at 56 Pole Bridge Road in Newtown, CT.
 
April 8 (Wednesday) @7pm EST – Riverwood Poetry Series will host Mark Doty and Nadia Sims in The Avery Theater at the Wadsworth Atheneum at 29 Atheneum Square North in Hartford, CT. Free to attend; refreshments available to purchase.
 
April 18 (Saturday) @ 2pm-4pm – The CT Poetry Society Workshop is celebrating the publication of its new anthology Words at Play. Hosted by Ed Ahern, come join the poets as they read from their collection and invite discussion of poetry at the Wilton Public Library, located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton, CT in the Rimer Room. Free to attend; registration required.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: Strip Mall Magazine
Deadline: March 14, 2026
Submit up to 3 poems, maximum 10 pages. Blind read. No reading fee; no payment.
 
Publisher: Sonic Boom
Deadline: March 15, 2026
Submit 2-5 poems at a time. Accepts two types of poems: poetry under 10 lines or visual poems. Works published on blogs and social media accounts are not considered previously published. No reading fee; no payment.
 
Publisher: ONE ART’s 2026 Haiku Anthology 
Deadline: March 15, 2026
Please submit up to four haiku/senryu—not necessarily the 5-7-5 format, but thematically “two worlds in one breath.” Previously uncurated, though sharing on personal sites (including social media) is great! Simultaneous submissions are allowed.
 
Publisher: National Federation of State Poetry Societies (NFSPS)
Deadline: March 15, 2026
Multiple poetry contests with multiple winners, prizes, and entry fees—the only thing that’s the same is the deadline of March 15th. Entry fees range from $0 (student entry) to $10 per poem. Prizes range from $10 (3rd prize, student award) to $250 (1st prize, adult award).
 
Publisher: NECKSNAP Magazine
Deadline: March 15, 2026
Submit up to 5 poems at a time of no more than 200 words each. Sim subs ok. Previously pubbed work ok if it’s no longer in print. No reading fee; $5 payment per contributor.
 
Publisher: An Inkslinger’s Observance
Deadline: March 23, 2026
Submit up to 4 poems at a time along the theme of “patchwork.” No reading fee; no payment.
 
Publisher: Hobo Camp Review
Deadline: March 31, 2026
Send up to four poems with the theme of the American Southwest. No fee, no payment (unless otherwise indicated – they sometimes give out cash awards and prizes when able to do so). No simultaneous subs. Prefer new work, but they also publish reprints. Also reviews books.
 
Publisher: Effy: a literary magazine
Deadline: April 1-April 7, 2026
Looking for work that’s weird, nostalgic, and urgent—experimental work ok. They’re interested in publishing folios, not individual poems. Send up to 5 pieces per submission. Also publishes reprints, as long as their original place of publication is defunct. Sim subs ok. No reading fee; no payment.
 
Publisher: Bullshit Lit
Deadline: Not listed
Send up to four pieces of “your finest bullshit” up to 6 pages maximum. Simultaneous subs ok. Limited reprints ok (hard-to-find previous publications, such as defunct magazines, personal blogs, etc.). No reading fee; no payment.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

February 16 (Monday) @1pm EST – Poet Yesenia Montilla, an Afro-Latina poet and a daughter of immigrants, will read from her work in the Greenberg Center on the University of Hartford campus in CT. The reading will be followed by a Q&A and book signing. It will last about one hour. The event is free and open to the public. Check out this LINK for a University of Hartford campus map.
 
February 16 (Monday) @7pm EST – Poets on Poetry presents Connecticut poet Eric Hoffman leading a discussion of the life and poetry of John Berryman with a focus on his magnum opus, The Dream Songs. Particular attention will be given to its curious place within American Letters, as well as its genius and originality. Online event.
 
February 17 (Tuesday) @5pm-6pm EST – Reading by Merrill Fellow, Weijia Pan, at Bank Square Books, located at 80 Stonington Road in Mystic, CT. Free to attend; RSVP encouraged, but not required to attend.
 
February 19 (Thursday) @7pm-9:30pm EST – Bloomfield Library's Wintonbury Poetry Series is an in-person event at the McMahon-Wintonbury Library, located at 1015 Blue Hills Avenue in Bloomfield, CT. The featured poets are Sherri Bedingfield and Donna Fleischer, followed by an open mic. Free to attend; registration requested.
 
February 19 & 20 (Thursday & Friday) @7pm-9:30pm EST – A Portrait of Robert and Elinor Frost by Eric Peterson. It's a performance that dramatizes the relationship between Robert Frost and his wife, using historical records and Frost's poetry. Located at the Donald L. Oat Theater at 62 Broadway in Norwich, CT. Tickets are $17-$20.
 
February 21 (Saturday) @ 2pm EST – The monthly CT Poetry Society Workshop, hosted by our very own Ed Ahern, which takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Wilton Public Library in the Rimer Room, located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton, CT. Bring a poem to share with the group for critique. Ed will take 1 poem per session and have it posted in the lobby for everyone to read at the library. Free to attend; registration required.
 
February 22 (Sunday) @ 3pm EST – Poetry Rocks Celebrates Black History Month featuring Windsor Poet Laureate Versatile Poetiq and Kashawn Taylor. And introducing new Vernon Poet Laureate Maleena Stans. Open mic & refreshments. Suggested donation $5. Additional parking is available next door at Center Road School.
 
February 22 (Sunday) @ 2pm-4pm EST – Join poets Laurel S. Peterson and Bill Hayden for a Norwalk Poet Laureate Emeriti Book Celebration at the Norwalk Public Library, located at 1 Belden Avenue in Norwalk, CT. Current Norwalk Poet Laureate, Katherine E. Schneider, hosts a celebration for the newest books of Norwalk Poets Laureate Emeriti. Will be hearing from Laurel, Bill, and poets featured in Bill’s anthology. Refreshments will be served.
 
March 11 (Wednesday) @ 7pm EST – The 59th Wallace Stevens Poetry Program presents award-winning poet Brenda Hillman reading her poetry as the 59th Wallace Stevens Poet. It will take place at the at the Konover Auditorium at UConn in Storrs, CT. Reception at 6pm, reading at 7pm. Free and open to the public and will feature readings by award-winning UConn student poets prior to Hillman’s appearance.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: Bluestem
Deadline: February 15, 2026
Submit between 3-5 poems. Sim subs ok. No submission fee; payment not listed.
 
Publisher: The Anansi Archive
Deadline: February 28, 2026 (UK time)
Poetry of up to 500 words per piece in all genres/forms. Entry fee: £1 per poem. Prize: First £20, runner-up £10.
 
Publisher: Kinsman Quarterly: Voices of Mixed Heritage
Deadline: February 28, 2026
Submit poetry exploring themes of multicultural or third-culture identity, love, belonging, home life, and pain. Win up to $500 in cash prizes and publication in Kinsman’s upcoming anthology. They accept prose of 300 to 2,000 words, and up to 10 pages of poetry. No entry fee; value: $500, $250, $150; $25 Amazon gift cards for runners-up.
 
Publisher: Tintreach
Deadline: February 28, 2026 or until full
Poems can be any length. They strive to publish two works by each artist; Featured Artists will have 3–4 pieces pubbed. Submit 2-4 poems. Reprint ok. Free to submit; payment of €25- €50.
 
Publisher: Altar
Deadline: March 1, 2026
Their inaugural issue explores spring and all that comes with it. Submit up to 3 poems. Free to submit; payment of $5 per published piece.
 
Publisher: THEMA
Deadline: March 1, 2026
Theme: “While the snowstorm was raging.” Submit up to 3 poems. What they like: poems that are thoughtfully constructed and carefully distilled. What they don't like: sexually explicit wording. Subtlety is more creative. Payment of $10 per published poem.
 
Publisher: Cover
Deadline: No deadline.
Send 1 poem at a time. Their tagline is, ‘Fiction and poetry for the present’. For poetry, they want to read poems that make space for incompatibility, disunion, chaos. Also poems about the rocks and clouds near your home. Free to submit; payment of $25 per accepted piece.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

January 10 (Saturday, today) @3pm EST – An online poetry reading with Rae Armantrout, Mary Keating, Susan Michele Coronel, Margo Taft Stever. Free to attend; register for the Zoom link.
 
January 11 (Sunday) @ 2pm-3:30pm EST – Poetry Reading & Book Talk featuring Susan Michele Coronel and Angela Siew, two voices whose work illuminates the complexities of identity and lineage. The readings and Q&A will be held at Possible Futures Books at 318 Edgewood Avenue in New Haven, CT. Free to attend.
 
January 13 (Tuesday) @ 6:30pm EST – Poetry reading the second Tuesday of every month at Black Rock Books at 3030 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, CT, with our very own Poets’ Salon Edward Ahern reading his poetry, as well as Janet Krauss and other great local poets. Free to attend; $5 suggested donation at the door. RSVP requested.
 
January 14 (Wednesday) @ 6pm-7:30pm EST – Woodbury Public Library presents Poetry Open Mic Night. Join host Katie Baker, Poet Laureate of Woodbury, to share some poetry in front of a supportive audience! Or just pop in and listen. The (optional) poetry theme is “transformation.” Free and open to all. Located at the library, 269 Main Street South, in Woodbury, CT.
 
January 17 (Saturday) @ 2pm EST – The monthly CT Poetry Society Workshop, hosted by our very own Ed Ahern, which takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Wilton Public Library in the Rimer Room, located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton, CT. Bring a poem to share with the group for critique. Free to attend; registration encouraged.
 
January 28 (Wednesday) @ 10:30am-12pm EST – An in-person poetry group hosted by Christine Beck, who will present a poem by a well-known poet, invite people to comment on it, and then offer a short writing exercise. This first meeting will feature poet Mary Oliver. Located at the Avon Free Public Library at 281 Country Club Road in Avon, CT. Free to attend; registration recommended.
 
January 31 (Saturday) @ 10:30am-11:30am EST – “For Love of Birds” Poetry reading with Poet Laureate Katie Baker, who has invited local poets to read original and classic poems on birds in the library gallery, located at 269 Main Street South, in Woodbury, CT. Coffee/tea provided; free to attend.
 
February 4 (Wednesday) @ 7pm-8:15pm EST – Poems from CT's Four Corners presents an online live reading hosted by Barb Jennes and the Ridgefield Library, featuring several CT poets for the month of February. Free to attend; registration required to receive the Zoom link. Barb Jennes is also always looking for more CT poets to read—if you’re interested, reach out to her at [email protected].

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: Book Worms Zine: Apocalyptic Horror
Deadline: January 10, 2026 (today)
They’re looking for stories and poetry that dive into nuclear winters, climate catastrophes, algorithmic uprisings, techno-anarchy, or whatever fresh brand of apocalypse your twisted imagination can conjure. Send a poem of up to 20 lines. No reading fee; payment of $25 per published poem.
 
Publisher: The Orange & Bee
Deadline: January 14, 2026 (Australian time)
They want poetry and hybrid works “that engage in a significant way with the long history of fairy tales.” They welcome all styles of poetry, including form, free verse, and experimental. Send one poem at a time; they’re open to all lengths, but tend to most often publish poems of 50 lines or less. Payment of $50 US per published poem.
 
Publisher: Southword
Deadline: January 31, 2026 (or until full)
A print literary journal. You can submit up to 4 poems at a time. Sim subs ok. Pay: €50 per poem.
 
Publisher: The Nutmeg Poetry Award
Deadline: January 31, 2026
Open to Connecticut poets only and sponsored by the Connecticut Poetry Society. Submit up to three previously unpublished poems, in one document, no more than one poem per page; 80-line limit. CPS members may enter with no fee; $10 fee for non-members. Prizes: 1st $200; 2nd $100; 3rd $50. Blind read.
 
Publisher: Slush
Deadline: February 1, 2026
They are reading fiction submissions for their first issue; they are looking for prose poems and other hybrids that play with form to split and skew expectations. Submit up to 3 poems at a time. Sim subs ok. No fee to submit; poets will be paid $100 AUD.
 
Publisher: Vast Chasm Magazine
Deadline: No deadline
They publish “bold work that explores the expansive human experience.” Sub one poem at a time. No reading fee; payment of $50 per published piece.

We have a sad announcement to make. Last month, we lost a longtime Poets' Salon member, Marla Sterling. She was an amazing poet, but more than that, she was a wonderful person who brightened all of our lives with her humor and grace. She will be deeply missed. In honor of her, we invite all the members of The Poets' Salon to write a poem about something or someone meaningful to you, and we invite you to share it with the group at our next meeting in January 2026.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

December 14 (Sunday) @ 3pm-4:30pm EST – A generative poetry session guided by poet Victoria Nordlund. Welcoming writers of all levels, the workshop promises an enjoyable exploration of Ekphrasis poetry, weaving words and imagery to articulate emotional experiences and subject matter inspired by the objects and art in Mark Twain House, located at 351 Farmington Avenue in Hartford, CT. Tickets are $40 per person.
 
December 17 (Wednesday) @ 2pm EST – Based in the UK, AccessAbility Arts Presents Spoken Word special guest Lee McShane, neurodivergent actor, filmmaker, and published writer and poet. There will also be an open mic signup during the event.
 
December 18 (Thursday) @ 7pm-9pm EST - Best Video Film & Cultural Center presents The Sleeping Giant Reading Series with poet Antoinette Brim-Bell and author Leslie Connor. Curated by local writers, the Sleeping Giant Reading Series happens every third Thursday. Free to attend at 1842 Whitney Avenue in Hamden, CT; donations at the door for our guest readers are always appreciated.
 
December 18 (Thursday) @ 8pm EST – Based in New York City, the Online Open Mic hosted by Elemen2al is held every Thursday night. Free to attend; donations welcome. 20 spots available for reading, which will open for signup 24 hours before the event.
 
December 30 (Tuesday) @ 3pm-4:30pm EST – Plant Your Grief: An Open Mic For All Who Have Loved And Lost is an online gathering for poets and writers to share their losses. This is event is free, however there will be the option on the night, to donate to a very special charity doing incredible work to support mourners, the bereaved and those of us struggling with grief.
 
December 31 (Wednesday) @ 7pm EST – Happy New Year's Poetry & Open Mic is holding a virtual evening filled with poetry and creative performances. Share your own holiday-themed poetry or any piece that warms your heart this season. Whether you're a seasoned performer or a first-timer, this holiday edition promises a welcoming audience and a fun atmosphere. 
 
January 6 (Tuesday) @ 8pm EST – Speaking Crow is Winnipeg’s longest-running poetry open mic, and welcomes poets of all stripes to read at their online event in January.
 
January 7 (Wednesday) @ 7pm-8:15pm EST – Poets from CT's Four Corners, an online live reading hosted by Barb Jennes and the Ridgefield Library, includes one of our own: Mary Keating. Free to attend; registration required to receive the Zoom link.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: Nightfall Poetry Anthology
Deadline: December 15, 2025
Sub up to 3 poems on the theme of “nighttime.” No reading fee; payment of $50 per poem.
 
Publisher: The Deadlands
Deadline: December 20, 2025
Theme: death and everything related. Submit up to 3 poems at a time. No length limit, no reading fee. Payment of $50 per poem upon publication.

Publisher: The Ex-Puritan
Deadline: December 25, 2025
Publishes experimental/hybrid work, poetry, and translations; they accept a limited number of fee-free submissions every month. Sim subs ok. Payment of $50 CAN per poem.
 
Publisher: Livina Press Magazine
Deadline: December 30, 2025
Theme: Fairytales, Myths, and Legends. Can submit multiple poems (no limit is specified). Reprints ok. No reading fee; no payment. Sim subs ok.
 
Publisher: Defenestration.net Lengthy Poem Contest
Deadline: January 1, 2026
Submit 1 poem of at least 120 lines. No prose poems. No fee; $300 awarded to the winner, with 3 finalists published on their website.
 
Publisher: The Paris Review
Deadline: January 31, 2026 or until full
Sub up to 6 poems at a time. Sim subs ok. Payment of $10 per line, minimum $300 per poem.
 
Publisher: Lamp Lit
Deadline: Not specified
Send 3-5 poems per submission. Sim sub ok. Free to sub; no payment for publication.
 
Publisher: Lotus Eater Literary Magazine
Deadline: None
Send 3-6 poems in any format (including prose poems) per submission. No reading fee; no payment.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

November 11 (Tuesday) @ 6:30pm EST – Poetry reading the second Tuesday of every month at Black Rock Books at 3030 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, CT, with our very own Poets’ Salon Edward Ahern and Vincent Convertito reading their poetry, as well as Janet Krauss and other great local poets. Free to attend; $5 suggested donation at the door. RSVP requested.
 
November 15 (Saturday) @ 2pm EST – The monthly CT Poetry Society Workshop, hosted by our very own Ed Ahern, which takes place on the 3rd Saturday of the month at the Wilton Public Library in the Rimer Room, located at 137 Old Ridgefield Road in Wilton, CT. Bring a poem to share with the group for critique. Free to attend; registration required.
 
November 19 (Wednesday) @ 7pm EST – Poets on Poetry (PoP) and the CT Poetry Society present the online workshop “After the Line Break: Hybrids & Sequences.” In this workshop, Joan Houlihan will discuss poetic line units to lyric blocks to prose vignettes and more. Brief readings will be followed by discussion with the audience. Zoom Registration link.
 
November 9 (Sunday) @ 2pm EST – Prickly Pear Open Mic is an online event every 2nd Sunday of the month. Open to all, but priority will be given to those with a disability and/or those who wish to share words about disability. Free to attend; donations welcome.
 
November 13 (Thursday) @ 7:30pm-9pm EST - Poetry for Your Soul Virtual Open Mic: Between the Leaves, hosted by FreeleSpoken, is a welcoming event where you can share your poetry, connect with others, or simply sit back and enjoy the rhythm and power of the words. Free to attend; registration required to receive the Zoom link.
 
November 9, 16, 23, etc. (Sundays) @ 7:30pm-9:30pm EST – Java Speaks Virtual Open Mic is a weekly writing workshop led by the incredible Mr. Funn and Theresa Davis. The workshop is from 7:30pm-8pm with the open mic following. Free to attend; suggested donation of $5 to help support the event. Registration required to receive the Zoom link.
 
December 3 (Wednesday) @ 7pm-8:15pm EST – Poems from CT's Four Corners and Ridgefield Library presents an online reading of five diverse and engaging Connecticut poets, including the Poets’ Salon’s own Mary Keating. Free to attend; registration required for the Zoom link.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: The Academy of American Poets: Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize
Deadline: November 15, 2025
This is an opportunity for US poets (resident or citizen). The Treehouse Climate Action Poem Prize for “exceptional poems that help make real for readers the gravity of the vulnerable state of our environment at present.” Free to submit; prizes of $1,000; $750; $500; $250. Blind read. They also accept spoken word poems sent in as videos/audio files.
 
Publisher: Channel Magazine
Deadline: November 20, 2025
An Ireland-based magazine, they are looking for work that draws on an aspect of nature as setting, image or metaphor. Pay: €35 per printed page.
 
Publisher: The Fiddlehead
Deadline: November 30, 2025
This well-regarded Canadian magazine is reading for a themed call, Disability: The Revolution. For this call, they want submissions from disabled writers only on the theme of revolution. Your submission should be no more than 6 poems and no more than 12 pages in total. No fee to submit; payment of $65 CAN per page.
 
Publisher: Stygian Zine
Deadline: November 30, 2025
Theme: Love lies dying. No reading fee; payment of $20 CAD. Written works must be 2,500 words or below. Reprints accepted.
 
Publisher: Grayson Books
Deadline: November 30, 2025
Seeking submissions for an anthology themed around the state of Connecticut. Poems can be about Connecticut people, places, historical events, natural resources, landmarks, etc. Poets may submit up to four poems. They ask authors to contribute toward costs of publication; authors receive copies of the anthology as well as royalties.
 
Publisher: Barbara
Deadline: Unspecified
Seeking submissions for their 2nd issue, a one-page print broadside produced in Scotland. Poets may submit up to four poems, 14 lines or fewer each. Barbara accepts all forms and styles of poetry: “from haiku to experimental freeform”. They are particularly interested in, though not limited to, publishing those who consider themselves outsiders. Authors published in Barbara will receive a free digital copy of the broadside.