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.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

October 11 (Saturday, TODAY) @ 2pm-5pm EST – Drop the Mic Night hosted by Cocreate Stamford (47 John Street in Stamford, CT). This highly anticipated event will bring together 10 speakers, including the Poets’ Salon own Mary Keating, each stepping onto the stage to share their unique, heartfelt take on the theme of “community.” Expect an evening full of laughter, inspiration, and maybe even a few happy tears as these storytellers drop the mic with performances that will stay with you long after the night is over. Tickets are $35-$45.
 
October 13 (Monday) @ 5pm EST – James Merrill House presents the special lecture: Beginning to Wonder: Forms of Astonishment in American Poetry with Matthews Bevis. He’s based at Oxford’s English Faculty, where he directs Poetry at Keble. RSVP encouraged but not required. Located at Pine Point School Geise Library, 89 Barnes Road in Stonington, CT.
 
October 15 (Wednesday) @ 6pm EST – The WordHouse Reading Series presents Ciaran Berry and Srinivas Mandavilli, preceded by an open mic. Located at the Noah Webster House, 227 South Main Street in West Hartford, CT. Free to attend; donations appreciated.
 
October 16 (Thursday) @ 7pm-9:30pm EST – The Wintonbury Poetry Series presents Luisa Caycedo-Kimura and Pat Mottola reading their poetry, followed by an open mic. Free to attend; RSVP required.
 
October 18 (Saturday) @ noon-5pm EST – Arts Alliance of Woodbury presents Arts Saturday, a day of performances, poetry readings, music, art, and shopping. Located in the historic Old Town Hall, 5 Mountain Road in Woodbury, CT. Free to attend.
  
October 18 (Saturday) @ 11am-5pm EST – The Connecticut Literary Festival runs from 11am to 6pm at Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor Street in Hartford, CT. Panels, readings, food trucks, interviews, music, bookfair, and more. At noon is the release of the CT LIT Anthology, which includes the Poets’ Salon very own Mary Keating and Vincent Convertito.

October 19 (Sunday) @ 6pm EST – A Showcase of Connecticut Asian American Writers: Kevin Chang Barnum, Shou Jie Eng, Angela Siew, and Nafeesa Syeed, followed by an open mic. Located at Spruce Coffee, 952 State Street, in New Haven, CT. Free to attend; sign up online to RSVP for the event and the open mic.
 
October 20 (Monday) @ 7pm EST – Poets on Poetry (PoP) and the CT Poetry Society present the online workshop “Writing Powerhouse Poems.” In this workshop, Joan Kwon Glass will demonstrate how to generate impactful, memorable poems.
Zoom Registration link
 
October 21 (Tuesday) @ 5:30pm EST – A Performance of Music & Poetry at Hartford Public Library, 500 Main Street in Hartford, CT (CCC Room). The Interiors Project is a performance of music and poetry at UConn Hartford featuring UConn Creative Writing students in collaboration with StarWound, a band from Greece. The performance is free and open to the public.
 
October 24 (Friday) @ 5:30pm-7pm – Step into the historic Mark Twain House (351 Farmington Avenue in Hartford, CT) where Poet Laureate of Glastonbury, Victoria Nordlund, will guide you in creating original poems inspired by tarot. Tickets are $75 per person; $65 for museum members, and include a tarot deck to keep and an optional free tarot/bone reading. 

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: Into the Deep, Dark Woods Anthology
Deadline: October 15, 2025
Submit one poem at a time. Looking for poetry of multiple genres, including fantasy, science fiction, horror, suspense, mystery, humor, and romance. An anthology exploring the magic and mystery of the primeval wilderness, where tangled branches create a foreboding canopy. Think of the creatures that inhabit the forest and the people who stumble upon them. No sim subs.
 
Publisher: Banshee Press
Deadline: October 31, 2025
An Irish journal open to international submissions of poetry of no more than 40 lines. Submit up to 4 poems at a time. Sim subs ok. No reading fee; honorarium offered upon publication, as well as a copy of the journal.
 
Publisher: Mud Season Review
Deadline: October 31, 2025
Submit 3-5 poems of up to 10 pages at a time. Open to all forms and formats of poetry. Each poem should be able to stand on its own, but the poems in a portfolio should have a collective impact as well. They seek deeply human work that will teach something about life, but also about the craft of writing or visual art. Sim subs ok. No reading fee; $15-$50 payment upon publication. They also offer a paid ($45) feedback service if requested.
 
Publisher: Book XI: A Journal of Literary Philosophy
Deadline: December 15, 2025 or when submission cap of 200 is reached
Submit up to 5 poems at a time. Looking for poetry with philosophical themes. All submissions must include “What We Talk About When We Talk About” as part of the title for this reading period. No reading fee; payment of $50 per poem.
 
Publisher: Kismet Magazine
Deadline: Open on a rolling basis.
Kismet is a new magazine that aims to offer “a fresh perspective on spirituality, religion, and mysticism for seekers and skeptics alike.” Submit up to 5 poems – they like to publish poetry portfolios, not individual poems. They pay for publication (amount unspecified).
 
Publisher: Clarendon House
Deadline: No deadline
Ed Ahern’s personal recommendation: editor Grant Hudson creates great poetry anthologies. Maximum word count for each poem will be 500 words. No minimum. No reading fee; no payment (poets receive a free eBook copy of the anthology).

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

September 20 (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.
 
September 25 (Thursday) @ 7pm EST – Black Rock Books presents Writing as Resistance: A Reading & Workshop Community Event. Attendees to the bookstore, located at 3030 Fairfield Avenue in Bridgeport, CT, will read from several works, from Toi Dericotte’s poem “Joy is an act of resistance” to an excerpt from Jenny Boully’s “The Body: An Essay.” After a brief discussion, participants will write together with facilitator prompts. Drafts will be shared and discussed in a supportive, community-oriented space. Free to attend; $10 suggested donation at the door – all donations will go to Make the Road Connecticut (MRCT), which supports equal opportunities for all, regardless of immigration status, race, or income. RSVP requested.
 
September 26 (Friday) @ 6:30pm EST – The Mystic Café presents poet Kwame Dawes, Emmy-winning Poet Laureate of Jamaica. His poetry awards include The Forward Prize, The Hollis Summer Prize, Hurston/Wright Legacy Award and Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship. He will be reading at La Grua Center at 32 Water Street in Stonington, CT. Tickets are $20.
 
September 27 (Saturday) @ 9:30am-3:30pm EST – The Hartford Book Festival, featuring multiple authors including Frederick-Douglass Knowles II (Hartford Poet Laureate Emeritus), Lizzie Madelyn, child author Bella’Rae Knia Robinson, and more. Located at the Hartford Public Library at 500 Main Street in Hartford, CT. Live stage, open mics, roundtable discussions, and vendors. Free to attend; RSVP requested.
 
October 7 (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 members Edward Ahern, Myla Mercer, Vincent Convertito reading their poetry, as well as Janet Krauss and other great local poets. Free to attend; $5 suggested donation; RSVP requested.
 
October 8 (Wednesday) @ 7pm EST – Real Art Ways presents the Riverwood Poetry Series, featuring award-winning poets Ciaran Berry and Luisa Caycedo-Kimura reading from their work. This will be followed by an open mic for the first ten poets who sign up. Food and drink available to purchase. Located at Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor Street, Harford, CT. Free to attend; registration required.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: Bat City Review
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Submit 3-5 poems at a time. Sim subs ok. Blind read. Contributors receive 2 free copies of the issue in which their work appears. No reading fee; no payment.
 
Publisher: Plott Hound
Deadline: September 15, 2025
Looking for speculative fiction poems told with anthropomorphized animals as viewpoint characters and protagonists. No human viewpoints! Send 1-5 poems/up to 5 pages in a single document. Sim subs ok. Free to submit; payment of $50 per poem.
 
Publisher: Westerly
Deadline: September 17, 2025 (Australia)
Submit up to 5 poems, up to 50 lines each. Blind read. Payment of $250 AUS per poem or $300 AUS for a poetic sequence.
 
Publisher: hedgerow: a journal of small poems
Deadline: September 17, 2025
hedgerow is a short-poetry journal dedicated to publishing an eclectic mix of new & established voices across the spectrum of the short poem, with particular attention to the constantly evolving forms of English-language haiku, senryu, tanka, haiga & haibun. Submissions of prose poems, other longer poems & sequences, as well as short stories also welcome. Submit up to 10 poems at a time. Sim subs ok. Reprints ok. No reading fee; no payment.
 
Publisher: The Ex-Puritan
Deadline: September 25, 2025
This Canadian literary magazine publishes experimental/hybrid work, poetry, and poetry in translation; they accept a limited number of fee-free submissions every month, and read year-round. Sim subs ok. Payment of $50 CAN per poem.
 
Publisher: The Scribes Prize
Deadline: October 1, 2025
Short works of 90-110 words. Submission fee $5 per story; 3 max. 18 cash prizes, consisting of: $250, $125, $60 or $20. Winners published in November issue of ScribesMICRO. Each submission receives feedback from 2 judges. Reprints and simultaneous submissions welcome.
 
Publisher: Alien Buddha Press
Deadline: open
They are accepting poetry chapbooks and longer collections.
 
Publisher: Prolific Pulse Press
Deadline: open
Accepting submissions for poetry chapbooks and full poetry manuscripts. A chapbook must have at least 12 poems but may contain more poems.

UPCOMING POETRY READINGS/WORKSHOPS

August 12 (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 members Edward Ahern, Myla Mercer, 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.

August 15 (Friday) @ 4pm EST – GreenStage Guilford Live Arts Festival presents readings of original poetry by three Connecticut poets: Guilford Poet Laureate Mark McGuire-Schwartz; Cheshire Poet Laureate Pat Mottola, who's also president of the Connecticut Poetry Society; and Kashawn Taylor, a formerly incarcerated writer whose latest work explores themes of freedom, justice, hope and beauty. Located at the Guilford Green in Guildford, CT, Stage 2. Free to attend the festival, running from August 10th-17th; donations welcome. Here's a full calendar of events for the festival.
 
August 16 (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.
 
August 22 (Friday) @ 6pm-8pm EST – Live @ the Factory: Poetry Night with Luisa Caycedo-Kimura and Michael “Chief” Peterson, followed by an open mic. Located at Ball & Socket Arts, 493 West Main Street in Cheshire, CT. Free to attend; bring lawn chairs and a picnic.
 
September 6 (Saturday) @ 2pm EST - On the first Saturday of each month, People and Their Poems podcast, along with Orenaug Mountain Publishing, host an online poetry roundtable.  They feature one or two poets who read three or four poems.  Other poets share a poem.  This is a supportive environment where creativity and kindness merge in an alchemic reaction that produces hope.  All are welcome.  Email orenaugmountainpublishing.org for the Zoom link to participate in the September 6 roundtable. Check out their YouTube link for the podcast.
 
September 10 (Wednesday) @ 7pm EST – Real Art Ways presents Sean Thomas Dougherty reading from his work, winner of the Paterson Poetry Prize and the Housatonic Book Award. Open mic for the first 10 poets who sign up. Food and drink available to purchase. Located at Real Art Ways, 56 Arbor Street, Harford, CT. Free to attend; registration required.
 
September 11 (Thursday) @ 12pm-4pm – American Mural Project presents Stories of Our Working Lives: A Poetry Workshop for Seniors, led by poets Elizabeth Thomas and Steve Straight. Write poetry inspired by your own work experiences. Working individually and in a group, you’ll explore personal stories through guided writing sessions. For ages 55+, $30 to attend.

PLACES TO SUBMIT YOUR POETRY

Publisher: Fondation Jan Michalski Residencies for Writers
Deadline: August 27, 2025 (CET Time)
Residencies at the foot of the Jura mountains in Montricher, Switzerland. A percentage of the residencies are dedicated to nature writing. No age or nationality restrictions. Residents will receive round-trip travel, lodging, breakfast and lunch, electric bikes, and CHF 400 per week.
 
Publisher: Thinking Ink Press
Deadline: August 30, 2025
Sub up to 5 poems. Looking for short poems of either 16 lines or fewer or 30 lines or fewer. No reading fee; payment of $20 per acceptance (plus contributor’s copy). Sim subs ok.
 
Publisher: Poetry Archive Now
Deadline: August 31, 2025 (UK time)
Record yourself reading one of your poems (maximum length 2 minutes). Voice-only submissions also okay. Poems must be written during, and in response to, 2025. They can be on any theme, subject and in any style. Top 20 shortlisted poems will be featured on their website; others will be on their YouTube channel. There will be no monetary payment for these. Top prize will receive £1,000.
 
Publisher: Cosmic Chronicles Literary Prize (The SETI Institute)
Deadline: September 1, 2025
Poetry submissions up to 80 lines. Contest is open to those who haven’t published a full-length book (chapbooks ok). Poems should be on the theme of “Intelligence and Consciousness,” answering the questions of: What is the nature of consciousness? and What is the nature and evolution of intelligence? $1,000 top prize; three honorable mentions of $100 each.
 
Publisher: Phi Kappa Phi Forum
Deadline: September 2, 2025
Submit 1-3 poems of 40 lines or less each. Theme: travel by plane. No reading fee; payment of $4 per line.
               
Publisher: Twin Flame
Deadline: Not specified
Brand new magazine looking for submissions for their inaugural issue. Sub up to 3 poems, no length limit. No reading fee; no payment. Fast response time – within 2-3 days.