We’re excited to announce that submissions are now open for the 2026 Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA)! This annual poetry competition celebrates the legacy of Illinois’ former Poet Laureate, Gwendolyn Brooks, by uplifting emerging poets and giving them a platform to share their work.
Interested poets can find full submission guidelines and apply here:
👉 GBOMA 2026 Submission Information
Learn more about the history of GBOMA and how it continues to champion poets across the region:
We look forward to reading your work!
