Sponsored by the Mockingbird Chapter of the Poetry Society of Texas

No Entry Fee

• Download the 2026 Collin County Poetry Contest Flyer (PDF)

Categories

Winners are chosen from each grade level

• Students: Open to all Collin County public, private, and home school students (K-12).
  • Winners are chosen from each grade level.
• College Students: Open to College Students who currently attend school in, or reside in, Collin County.
• Adults:  Open to all adults residing in Collin County.
• Mockingbird Chapter Members: Open to all members regardless of residence.

Winning Poems

• Winners will be announced at the 55th Collin County Poetry Awards in April 2026 (if possible).
• Winners – 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, and Honorable Mention winners receive certificates and one Anthology.
• Winning poems will be published in a 2026 Winner’s Anthology.

Accepting entries now. Must be mailed on or before February 2, 2026 (Postmark Date)

Contest Rules

Poems will be disqualified if they don’t follow these rules:

1. Each contestant may enter one poem, written in any style on any subject.
2. The poem must be the original work of the contestant.
3. The poem must not exceed 28 lines. We do not count the title and the white space between lines or stanzas.
4. Line width may not exceed 60 characters, including spaces and punctuation.
5. A poem is not eligible that has been published .
6. Contestants must retain a copy of their poems. Submitted copies will not be returned.

Preparation of Entries

1.   Submit two typed copies of the poem. If the poem has two pages, please staple them together.
2. In the top left corner of both copies, write which of the following categories applies:
   • Student with grade level
   • College
   • Adult 
   • Mockingbird member 
3. In the top right corner of one copy, write your identification information:
   • Student winners will be contacted through their school, so please share the student’s name, school name, school address, teacher’s name, and teacher’s email address.
   • College students, share your name, address, college, and your email address.
   • Adults, share your name,  address, and email address.
4. Teachers may submit student entries in one envelope.  Please stack each student’s set with the identification copy on top. Please do not staple the two copies. The copy with no identification is used for judging.

Mail to:   Mockingbird Poetry Society – 7404 Townsend Blvd. – McKinney, TX 75071

Please direct any questions to Beth Ayers at mockingbirdpoets@gmail.com. If you are not able to open the email link, please copy and paste it into your email program to contact Beth.