The Nightboat Poetry Prize is an annual award from Nightboat Books, a publisher known for its commitment to innovative and culturally engaged poetry. The prize is open to any poet writing in English, including international Anglophone writers, and previous book publication is not a consideration for eligibility. This openness reflects Nightboat's dedication to discovering voices across all career stages, from emerging to established. The competition seeks original, unpublished manuscripts of at least 48 pages, with no more than one poem per page. Poems that have appeared in periodicals, anthologies, or chapbooks may be included, provided the manuscript as a whole remains unpublished. Translations are not eligible, and the press maintains a conflict-of-interest policy excluding family members, former students, and former employees of Nightboat Books from submitting. The prize offers poets a significant opportunity to have their work considered by a discerning press with a national reputation. While the exact prize package is not specified in the provided information, the award typically includes publication and a monetary advance. The submission fee is $28, and the deadline is November 16, 2026. Nightboat Books does not read submissions blind, so poets may include their name on the title page. The press welcomes manuscripts that may include images, though full-color printing is not available. This call is for poets who value a press with a curatorial vision that prioritizes literary merit and innovative poetics. The curatorial vision of Nightboat Books emphasizes work that challenges conventions and engages with contemporary concerns. The press has a history of publishing poets whose work intersects with art, politics, and experimental traditions. Poets submitting to this prize should consider how their manuscript aligns with Nightboat's aesthetic, which often favors lyrical innovation, conceptual rigor, and diverse perspectives. The competition is not for the faint of heart; it requires a polished, cohesive manuscript that stands out in a crowded field. However, for those who are selected, the prize offers a platform to reach a wider audience and join a community of writers who are shaping the future of poetry.