The Poetry Foundation has opened applications for its 2026 Ruth Lilly and Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Poetry Fellowships, awarding five fellowships of $27,000 each to exceptional young poets in the United States.

Among the largest awards available to emerging poets in the country, the fellowships, established in 1989 by Indianapolis philanthropist Ruth Lilly and expanded in 2013 through the Dorothy Sargent Rosenberg Memorial Fund, are designed to support poets who demonstrate a clear and sustained commitment to the craft. The application window opened January 15 and closes March 2, 2026, giving eligible poets a narrow but open path to one of the most prestigious poetry awards in the country.

To be eligible, applicants must be between 21 and 31 years old at any point in 2026 and must be US citizens or current residents. The Poetry Foundation has made it clear that one of its priorities for the 2026 cycle is supporting poets who have not yet received substantial institutional backing. Applicants submit 10 pages of poetry through the Foundation’s online portal, alongside responses to questions about their creative practices. There is no entry fee. A virtual information session is scheduled for February 11, 2026, from 12:00–1:00 PM CT, with ASL interpretation and CART captioning provided.

The fellowship comes with more than money. Each fellow receives a subscription to Poetry magazine and an invitation to submit work to the publication, one of the most storied literary journals in the world. Fellows are also sponsored to attend the O, Miami Poetry Festival, where they will participate in their inaugural reading as a cohort. Last year’s fellows included Nigerian poet Maryhilda Obasiota Ibe, a reminder that the fellowship’s reach extends beyond domestic literary circles.

African poets based in or connected to the United States should take note of this opportunity. The Poetry Foundation’s emphasis on supporting poets without deep institutional backing, combined with the fellowship’s prestige and networking potential, makes it a significant opportunity for emerging voices navigating the American literary landscape. Poets can register and apply through the Poetry Foundation’s Grants and Awards Online Portal. For questions or accessibility needs, contact [email protected].