Annual NYC High School Open Poetry Competition Invitation for Submissions – 2026
Dear NYC High School Students,
The New York Browning Society warmly invites you to participate in our Annual New York City–Wide High School Poetry Competition. As New York’s oldest literary society, we are committed to continuing the rich tradition of introducing young writers to the works of Robert Browning and Elizabeth Barrett Browning, while also encouraging students to pursue their own poetic excellence.
Each year, we conclude our season by honoring six outstanding student poets. Winners will each receive a $50 prize, publication of their poem on our website (www.nybrowning.org), an invitation to perform at the NYC Poetry Festival on Governors Island, and inclusion in a print anthology published by UndergroundBooks.org. We are excited to see the creativity and insight your work will bring.
We are seeking an original poem of no more than two pages, in any form of your choosing. To ensure students have space to express their ideas, each poem must be a minimum of twelve lines. Over 125 public, private, and parochial high schools across the greater New York City area are invited to participate—an extraordinary opportunity to join a longstanding literary tradition. We will select two winners from each school category: Public, Private, and Parochial.
Deadline for submissions: May 1st, 2026 Winners announced: May 6th, 2026 Winners and their teachers will be notified by email. Each winning student is expected to attend the New York Browning Society’s Annual Season Finale on May 13th, 2026, held at the Jefferson Market Library.
In the spirit of keeping the Brownings’ legacy alive, we hope to inspire students not only to imagine and create poetry, but to enrich their lives through the art of language. As April is National Poetry Month, we invite you to celebrate with us by submitting as many student poems as you wish.
For questions or submissions, please contact: James Browning Kepple High School Liaison, The New York Browning Society Email: JAMESBKEPPLE@GMAIL.COM
Announcements of selected poets, winning titles, and a report of the May 13th presentation will appear in our monthly newsletter and on our website.
We look forward to a wonderful competition and to reading your students’ work.
Annual NYC High School Open Poetry Competition Official Rules – 2026
Deadline: May 1st, 2026 Submission Email: JAMESBKEPPLE@GMAIL.COM
The New York Browning Society invites students from New York City’s public, private, and parochial high schools to participate in our Annual High School Poetry Competition. Please review the following rules and guidelines before submitting your work.
Prizes & Recognition
- A $50 cash prize will be awarded for each winning poem.
- Winners will receive an official certificate and publication on our website (www.nybrowning.org) as well as in a printed anthology produced by UndergroundBooks.org.
- Each winning student will be invited to perform their poem at the New York City Poetry Festival on Governors Island this summer.
Categories
There are two categories for submissions in each school type (Public, Private, Parochial):
- Original Poem – Any form, theme, or style.
- Browning-Inspired Poem – A poem inspired by a work of either Elizabeth Barrett Browning or Robert Browning.
Students may submit up to two poems, but only one per category.
Winner Participation
Each student winner is invited to bring a parent, guardian, or faculty member to the Season Finale on May 13th, 2026, where they will:
- Read their winning poem aloud
- Share a few words about their writing process
- Speak briefly about what inspired their work
Winners will be notified via email.
Submission Requirements
Each poem must meet the following criteria:
- Length: Minimum of 12 lines, maximum of 2 pages
- Format: Must be word‑processed (no handwritten entries)
- Identification: Each page must include the student’s name
The upper-left corner of the first page must include:
- Student name and grade
- School name
- Name of the faculty contact overseeing the student
- Contact adult’s telephone number and email address
- For Browning-inspired entries: the title of the Browning poem that inspired the student’s work
- (Students may share their favorite Browning poem even for free‑form entries, though it is not required.)
Submission Instructions
All entries must be submitted via email to: JAMESBKEPPLE@GMAIL.COM
We wish all participating students the very best of luck and look forward to reading your work.
The New York Browning Society 