About the Open Call

The Moth Poetry Prize is one of the biggest prizes in the world for individual unpublished poems. The prize is open to anyone over 16, and each year attracts thousands of entries from new and established poets from over 50 countries worldwide. The prize is judged anonymously by a single poet each year. Past winners have gone on to be shortlisted for major awards like the Forward Prize.

What is Offered

1st Prize: €6,000; 3 Runner-up prizes: €1,000 each; 8 Commended prizes: €250 each. Shortlisted poems are published in the Irish Times online.

Requirements

Entrants must be over 16 years of age. Works must be original, previously unpublished, and can be on any subject with no line limit.

How to Apply

Entries can be submitted online via the website or sent by post. Postal entries should include the poem(s), a cheque or postal order made payable to 'The Moth Magazine Ltd.', and an entry form or cover letter with contact details. If concerned about online formatting, poets can email their poem as a Word attachment with their entry number after paying online.