A Youth Poetry Celebration

Poetry
Without Borders

Share your voice across cultures, communities, and continents. An open poetry contest for all students, kindergarten through 12th grade.

2026 Contest — Submit Now Our Story

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Open to All

K–12 students from anywhere may submit. Any style or form of poetry is welcome.

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Three Categories

Separate prizes for Elementary, Middle School, and High School poets.

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Expert Judges

Reviewed by published poets, Stanford lecturers, and community literary leaders.

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Community & Connection

Join a growing community of young poets who inspire and uplift one another.

2026 Submissions Are Now Closed

Thank you to everyone who submitted a poem — we received a record number of entries this year! Winners will be announced at the April 2026 ceremony.

View 2026 Contest Details ✉️ Join Mailing List for 2027

Our Story

"I channeled that energy to create a poetry contest that would be open to all."

Poetry Without Borders was born from a personal rejection — and a determination to make sure no young poet faces the same closed door. Founded by Aditya Garg, the contest launched in 2025 in partnership with the Atherton Library, bringing together a community of poets with distinguished judges and a shared belief in the power of the written word.

In a world where freedom of expression is increasingly under pressure, poetry remains one of the most powerful means of self-expression available to us.

Read the full story →