05/22/2026
The 25th Annual Gival Press Oscar Wilde Award-2026 [Prize:$500.00]
"The truth is rarely pure and never simple."—Oscar Wilde
Deadline:
June 27, 2026 (postmarked)
Our dates never change. If the date falls on a Sunday, then Monday becomes the default postmarked date, if you mail the entry to us. Please note that the judging begins after June 27, 2026, with the announcement of the winner within 1-3 months.
Prize:
The winner will receive $500.00 (USD), and the poem, along with information about the poet, will be published on the websites of Gival Press (http://www.givalpress.com). The winner will be asked to sign a release form for payment. In addition, Gival Press hopes to publish an anthology of the winners of this award along with the best poems submitted to the contest over a period of several years.
Guidelines:
This award will be given to the best previously unpublished (self-publications and publications online are considered "published work") original poem written in English (of any length, in any style, typed, single spaced but with breaks for stanzas on one side only), which best relates LGBTQ life by a poet who is 18 or older.
Please note that our contracts for these contests include a statement explaining that any Work created by AI (Artificial Intelligence software) will be eliminated from the contests.
Submission:
Entrants are asked to submit up to 3 of their poems per submission in the following manner: (1) without any kind of identification, with the exception of the title, and (2) with a separate cover page with the following information: name, address (street, city, and state with zip code), telephone number, email address, if available, and the title of the poem submitted. (3) A short bio should also be included. Please submit work in a Word or RTF document. Please do not submit PDFs.
Please include which pronouns you use to refer to yourself.
Poems will not be returned, so poets should keep copies of their poems.
If you submit via Submittable, please include in your cover letter:
Name
Address
Telephone
Email Address
Reading Fee:
Poets must submit a reading fee of $20.00 (USD) with a submission of up to 3 poems, regardless of the length. Checks or money orders drawn on American banks, routed through a USA address, such as Bank of America, should be made payable to Gival Press, LLC. Overseas money orders are not acceptable. Or you can pay via https://givalpress.submittable.com.
Regular Mail to:
Robert L. Giron, Editor
Gival Press Oscar Wilde Award
Gival Press, LLC
P.O. Box 3812
Arlington, VA 22203.
Notification of the Winner:
Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) for notification of the winner or visit our website (http://www.givalpress.com), where the winner and finalists will be announced.
The winner is usually announced on or before September 1.
Judging:
Poems will be judged anonymously by the previous winner of the award. The decision made by the judge will be final.
Discount Offered to Entrants:
Anyone who has entered a Gival Press contest may purchase any books published or distributed by Gival Press at a 20% discount off the retail price, with free shipment. Credit cards are preferred. Kindly either call us (703.351.0079 - leave a message if we can't answer when you call and we will call you back) or send us an email with your phone number and we will call you, as we only accept the credit card information by phone.
Gival Press, LLC is an award-winning, independent literary press.
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