Open · Deadline 1 December 2026
Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets 2026
- Deadline
- Manuscripts are accepted annually between September 15th and December 1st.
- Funding
- USD 1,000 in total
- Who can apply
- All African countries
- Fields
- Arts and design
- Language
- Only poetry submissions in English can be considered.
- Awards
- 1
- Funder
- African Poetry Book Fund
Apply on the official site (africanpoetrybf.brown.edu)
Verified on 27 September 2026 against africanpoetrybf.brown.edu · How we verify
An annual competition from the African Poetry Book Fund for a first, unpublished poetry manuscript by an African author, awarding USD 1,000 and publication through the University of Nebraska Press.
The African Poetry Book Fund runs the Sillerman First Book Prize for African Poets, an annual competition open to poets from any African country submitting their first, unpublished full-length poetry manuscript.
Manuscripts are accepted every year between mid-September and the closing date of 1 December 2026. Only submissions written in English can be considered; the prize does not accept manuscripts in other languages.
The winning poet receives USD 1,000 and publication of the manuscript through the University of Nebraska Press as part of the African Poetry Book Fund series, alongside wider recognition within the African poetry community.
Applicants should consult the African Poetry Book Fund's official pages for the current submission guidelines, manuscript formatting requirements, and any reading or administrative fee before preparing their entry. Because the prize runs on the same annual cycle each year, poets who miss the 1 December 2026 deadline can prepare a manuscript for the following year's call.
Questions and answers
Who can apply for African Poetry Book Fund?
All African countries.
When is the deadline for African Poetry Book Fund?
1 December 2026.
Am I eligible?
Answer a few questions and get an assessment based on the official requirements.