2023 Shortlist
The Threshold Shortlisted
The Prize
A History of Excellence
The Griffin Poetry Prize is one of the world’s most generous poetry awards. In celebration of the Prize’s two-decade anniversary it announced its largest award to date, combining the existing International and Canadian prizes into one major prize. 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 C$10,000.
Additionally, a new C$10,000 prize will be awarded in June 2023 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.
Explore the 22-year history of the Griffin Poetry Prize here.
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