The villanelle is a form of paradox: its strict repetitions can either ossify or liberate a poem, and the difference lies entirely in the poet's ear. The Gylys Villanelle Prize, now in its second year, is dedicated exclusively to this demanding shape. Administered by Poetry by the Sea in partnership with the Wild & Precious Life Series, the award reflects a commitment to formal craft within contemporary poetry—a space where inherited structures are not nostalgic relics but living tests of invention. The winning poet receives $500 and an invitation to read the piece at the May conference, a gathering that situates the work within a community of practitioners rather than a solitary prize announcement. There is no publication guarantee or residency attached; the reward is monetary and performative, placing the poem in a room of listeners. That orientation matters: the villanelle is a poem that wants to be heard, its refrains circling back on themselves like a refrain in music. The contest thus honors both the page and the voice. A $12 entry fee applies, and the deadline is fixed for October 12, 2026. The prize is administered online, with no geographic restriction. For poets who work in received forms—or who resist them productively—this is a focused opportunity to submit a single, polished villanelle to a jury that understands the form's particular demands.