The Labyrinth of Love Poetry Contest 2026
Open to Paid Members Only
Judge: John Oughton
Subject & Theme
Poems need to be about love.
You may write a poem about one significant love affair or love interest, on a first crush, on a happily ever after love or you may write about a sad, hurtful love ending, all styles welcome. Each member may submit up to 5 poems.
Awards
Plus: 18 Honourable Mention Awards. All contest winners receive an award certificate and a chapbook with the winning poems.
Submission Rules
- Length: Max. length per poem is 28 lines and stanza spaces count as lines. Poem titles and short epigraphs not in the count. Up to 40 characters per line. This includes all punctuation and spaces between the words. All styles welcome.
- Formatting: Must be submitted on 8.5" x 11" letter size paper, single spaced, on one side of the page only.
- Font: Times New Roman 12 pt.
- Status: Poems must be unpublished and not sent elsewhere.
Blind Judging Instructions
No author name to appear anywhere on the poem pages, back or front. Please include a separate cover page with your name, complete mailing address, phone number, and email, along with a list of poem titles or first lines if the poem is untitled.
How to Enter
Entry Fees:
- FREE - Up to 5 poems
Mail to:
The Ontario Poetry SocietyAttn.: I.B. Iskov, Contest Coordinator
#710 - 65 Spring Garden Ave.
Toronto, ON M2N 6H9
Postmarked on or before August 31, 2027.