Important Dates
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
Griffin Poetry Prize judges announced
december 20, 2024
Deadline for receipt of submissions published between July 1 and December 30, 2024. Find out more on our Submissions page.
March 19, 2025
Griffin Poetry Prize Longlist announced
April 23, 2025
Griffin Poetry Prize Shortlist and Lifetime Recognition Award recipient announced
MAY 21, 2025
Canadian First Book Prize Winner announced
JUNE 4, 2025
Griffin Poetry Prize Readings in Toronto, Canada
2024 Shortlist
A Crash Course in Molotov Cocktails Shortlisted
School of Instructions Shortlisted
Farrar, Straus and Giroux, USA
Self-Portrait in the Zone of Silence Winner
The Prize
A History of Excellence
The Griffin Poetry Prize is one of the world’s most generous poetry awards. As of 2023, the prize is worth C$130,000, making it the world’s largest international prize for a single book of poetry written in, or translated into English. The other shortlisted poets each receive $10,000. Explore the 23-year history of the Griffin Poetry Prize here.
Additionally, a new $10,000 prize is awarded for a Canadian First Book of poetry, along with a six-week residency in Italy in partnership with the Civitella Ranieri Foundation to a Canadian Citizen, or permanent resident, for a first book written in English. A Lifetime Recognition Award is awarded by the trustees in the sum of C$25,000.
The Griffin Poetry Prize has been acknowledging and encouraging poets for twenty-two years. At a time when censorship and attacks on a diverse array of writers are on the rise in many countries – including the United States – it’s heartening to see such a strong vote of confidence in poets coming from Canada. Poetry is not a minor art form; it is the crucible of human language.
Margaret Atwood, Founding Trustee