Gulf Coast Journal

06/12/2026

It's here and it's beautiful! Read work by Toi Derricotte, Sanjena Sathian, Stephen Kampa, and Lorraine Rice in Gulf Coast 38.2 Summer/Fall issue, with art by Veronica Gaona.

06/05/2026

Read "The Other She" and other stories by Lydia Davis on Gulf Coast at link in bio.

06/04/2026

We mourn the loss of our dear friend and colleague, poet and former Gulf Coast Managing Editor Ryan Bollenbach. Ryan arrived in Houston and quickly became an important member of the literary community here, and while we'll miss his dedication, it is his quick humor and his joyfulness that we will remember the most. Today is Ryan's 38th birthday.

01/27/2026

In celebration of Gulf Coast’s 40th(!) anniversary, we will be rolling out some special events and programming!

First up this Friday we have an illustrious lineup for you celebrating contemporary Italian Literature and Translation.

These events will feature award winning scholar, poet, and translator JENNIFER SCAPPETTONE, Strega winning author ANDREA BAJANI, and UH’s own KAITLIN RIZZO!

Join us at 1pm at Basket Books for a conversation with the writers and then for a not-to-be-missed reading at 7pm at Art League Houston

Come celebrate with us! Vi aspettiamo! 🎉🍾

10/01/2025

Thank you for joining us for the exciting first installment of this year’s Gulf Coast Reading Series!

Thank you deeply to our guest reader for an electric reading and craft talk. Thank you to our UHCWP readers .z .fretwell .elizabeth.guez for your brilliant words. & thank you as always to for giving us an ever changing magical place to host these events.

Let’s do it again next month, shall we?

08/19/2025

The new Gulf Coast website is here!!!

As we launch our new site we are thrilled to release the latest issue of Online Exclusives featuring incredible new work in poetry, fiction, nonfiction, interviews, reviews, and translation.

Head to the link in our bio to read the full issue, and stay tuned as our corner of the internet gets fresh new updates and welcomes in even more exciting content across genres and mediums 😍🥳

10/28/2023

Issue 36.1 of our Online Exclusives is LIVE!

It was a joy assembling this issue and we are so thrilled to be able to share this incredible and thought-provoking work with you.

Check out the names of all of our wonderful contributors below, then head to the link to dive into the full issue!

Art: Kaneem Smith, Means for Impetus Recovery, fiberglass and steel, installation, 10’ x 3’ x 3’ feet each, 2009.
from the forthcoming print issue.
🎉😍

https://gulfcoastmag.org/online/36.1-summer/fall-2023/

07/06/2023

The 2023 Gulf Coast Journal Prize in Translation is open to short prose, fiction, and nonfiction in translation! The winner receives $1,000 and publication, and honorable mentions receive $250. All submissions will be considered for online publication. This year's prize is judged by the incomparable Katrina Dodson. Find out more here, and be sure to submit by August 31! https://bit.ly/3MTHbxm

06/30/2023

The 2023 Beauchamp Prize is open NOW!

This year's prize will be judged by Micki Meng.

First prize will receive $3000 and two honorable mentions will receive $1000.

Head to our website for more details: https://gulfcoastmag.org/contests/the-beauchamp-prize/

Founded by Donald Barthelme and Philip Lopate, Gulf Coast publishes a mix of emerging and established voices in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction and lyric essay, as well as full-color visual art features and critical art writing.

02/11/2023

The 2023 Gulf Coast Prizes are officially OPEN!

Our final judges this year will be Alexandra Kleeman (Fiction), Ingrid Rojas Contreras (Nonfiction), and Carmen Giménez (Poetry).

Head to the link below for submission details.

Entries for Gulf Coast Prizes in Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry are accepted annually between February 11 and April 16. The contest awards $1,500 and publication in Gulf Coast to the winner in each genre. Two honorable mentions in each genre are awarded $250. All entries are considered for publication and the entry fee includes a one-year subscription to Gulf Coast.

https://gulfcoastmag.org/contests/gulf-coast-prize/