The John Ridland Poetry Prize, now in its third year, is a distinct institutional gesture: a book prize reserved for poets aged 55 and older. It is named for John Ridland, a poet, professor, and translator whose long career exemplified sustained formal care. The prize is administered by Gunpowder Press, an independent publisher with a demonstrated commitment to seeing winning manuscripts through to publication—previous recipients include Joshua McKinney's 'Sad Animal' (2024) and Andrea Carter's 'Figeater' (2025). The award thus operates not as a one-off honor but as an entry point into a publishing relationship. The prize seeks unpublished book-length manuscripts of 48 to 100 pages. There is no restriction on form or subject matter stated beyond the age criterion, though the press's catalog and the Ridland legacy suggest an openness to both original poetry and translation. The winner receives $500 and publication by Gunpowder Press, along with 10 author copies. The entry fee is $30, which includes a copy of the winning book; a $25 option is available without the book. Submissions close on December 31, 2026, for the 2026 prize cycle. What distinguishes this opportunity is its explicit generational focus. In a field often oriented toward early-career discovery, the Ridland Prize carves out space for poets whose work has matured over decades. The press asks that close friends, students, or former students of the editors or final judge refrain from submitting—a standard measure to protect the integrity of the selection process. The requirement of a table of contents and an acknowledgments page for previously published individual poems signals a professional expectation: this is a prize for poets who have been working, publishing, and assembling a manuscript with intention.