The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2026

The Central Avenue Poetry Prize 2026

A stirring third showcase of acclaimed and emerging poets from around the world, this collection invites readers to experience the voices that are shaping contemporary poetry—and the emotions that unite us all. Volume three of The Central Avenue Poetry Prize showcases a dynamic chorus of voices from around the world—each one offering a unique window into the human condition. This anthology brims with feeling: loss and yearning, joy and curiosity, the quiet beauty of everyday existence. Every poem is a glimpse into a life, a moment, a truth. From sharp observations to tender recollections, from lyrical portraits to bold declarations, this collection is a celebration of poetry’s enduring power. It reminds us that writing is not just an art, but a way of being—a means to uncover ourselves and forge deeper bonds with others. “These poems practically hum with the energy of real things—yew trees, mangoes, pumpkin bread, a coat sewn from a great grandmother’s quilt. Curated and arranged with careful intention by Beau Adler, this year’s Central Avenue Poetry Prize anthology once again reminds us what we need to keep ourselves grounded in the actual world—this place we want to love, and hope to save. As Makayla Wamboldt movingly writes, we must each “reach for life while it’s slippery . . . like it’s a wet heart, willing to give what it can give.” With its collective push toward growth and a stretching of our own empathy, this collection gives and gives, singing its heart out with the turn of every new page.” — James Crews , editor of How to Love the World and The Wonder of Small Things “The 2026 volume of The Central Avenue Poetry Prize is a collection that is beautifully crafted—tender, evocative, and deeply felt. It is a skillfully curated anthology in which distinct voices converse with one another, creating a resonant and unified whole.” — Harman Kaur , author of Call Me Home Praise for Previous Editions "It's amazing when an anthology of different voices still manages to feel like a cohesive, breathing whole. These poems, together, are a choir, a song of hope and longing you will feel vibrating deep in your bones long after reading. "tell me everything you know / of tenderness" this book asks of its reader, and I am here, with my chest unlocked, ready to speak of it." — Grant Chemidlin , author of What We Lost in the Swamp This collection reads like a secret, some whispered truth offered in hushed tone on the edges of a crowded room. It sticks with you that way, too. These poems, these raw and varied, diverse and vulnerable bits of ache, of joy, of sorrow, and mostly of beauty, burrow into your mind and keep the whisper going long after you’ve put it down. So much talent, I’ve never envied the judge of this contest less." — Tyler Knott Gregson , author of Chasers of the Light "The Central Avenue Poetry Prize is an astounding collection of poems. As you read each page and meet new poets from different countries and life experiences, you'll be reminded of the joy and pain that make us all human: the love we crave, the loss we endure, and the lives we live." — Shelby Leigh , author of Girl Made of Glass and From Sand to Stars This book is filled with poems that’ll change your life and if not your life, then perhaps at the very least, your morning or your coffee break because that’s what poetry does, which is something other kinds of writing can’t." — Iain S. Thomas , author of I Wrote This For You and The Truth of You "This felt like a homecoming to the interconnectedness of the human experience. With so many different poets, so many different lived lives, it's a reminder that there is both immense beauty and pain in being human, and yet, we are never alone in it either." — Makenzie Campbell , author of 2am Thoughts and Self Portrait “The Central Avenue Poetry Prize makes its debut with an incredible array of diverse and talented poetic voices. This anthology is a stunning showcase of the contemporary poetry scene.” — Catarine Hancock , author of shades of lovers  Working beside the sea in the Pacific Northwest, Beau Adler has worn many different hats, but his fervent passion for literature led him to the publishing world—where he intends on staying. When he isn’t reading and writing emails, Beau is jogging, hiking with his dog, or binge-watching sitcoms on Netflix. Beau is the senior editor of The Central Avenue Poetry Prize .