🗣️ 2026 Fighting Words Poetry Contest Open Now
It’s one of our favorite times of the year—the 2026 Fighting Words Poetry Contest is open!
This annual contest invites students from around the world to use poetry to respond to the global issues featured in Pulitzer Center-supported reporting.Â
This year, we are excited to expand this opportunity to welcome submissions from 18-24 year olds and share what issues young adults are passionate about and how creative writing can be utilized to process current events and illuminate underreported stories.Â
Entrants should first visit the Pulitzer Center website to select a news story, and then write a poem of any form and length that includes lines from the story and responds to its themes and central issue. After a rigorous judging process, winning entries will be selected in five focus areas: Climate and Environment, Global Health, Peace and Conflict, Human Rights, and Information and Artificial Intelligence. Young adult and K-12 student entries will be judged separately.
Winners and finalists will receive cash prizes and publication on the Pulitzer Center website.
We invite you to get started by visiting the contest portal to read full submission guidelines and discover resources that guide your students as they use poetry to respond to global issues. Explore graphic organizers, introductory workshops you can download to introduce your class to the contest, past winning poems, and suggested stories grouped by topic and grade level.Â
All poetry submissions are due Sunday, May 10, by 11:59pm ET.
We look forward to receiving your students’ poems and uplifting young voices from around the world. Please share this opportunity with educators in your network!Â