The 2026 Ps&Qs Audio Poem Award
Poems don’t just live on the page. They live in the breath, the pause, the crack in the voice, the way a line lands in the ear.
This winter, Quibble Lit is launching the Ps&Qs Audio Poem Award — a new contest celebrating poems that thrive in voice, sonics, and performance.
The Ps&Qs Audio Poem Award grows out of Quibble’s 2023 Phonetic Quality Contest, a small pilot experiment that revealed just how deeply poets and listeners connect through sound, voice, and performance.
Building on that momentum, we’re carving out a new landing stage for audio-forward poetry — a space where poets can bring their work to life and reach new audiences across page, performance, and digital platforms. Our goal is to develop a meaningful, industry-recognized award that celebrates this powerful niche within the literary arts.
Submission Window:
December 1 - March 1
(Full guidelines and Submittable link coming soon.)
About the Award
The Ps&Qs Audio Poem Award is a blind-judged contest for audio-only poems up to 2 minutes long.
We’re looking for work that comes alive when spoken: poems that use rhythm, pacing, silence, tone, and musicality as part of their meaning.
Winners and finalists will be featured in a multi-platform showcase across Quibble Lit’s website, social channels, and video platforms.
Highlights
Audio-only poems, 2 minutes max
Blind judging (judges hear only the voice and poem, not your name)
Cash prizes: $250 / $125 / $75
Publication and performance-forward features for winners & finalists
Optional video performance for finalists after selections
You don’t need a studio — a phone in a quiet room is enough.
We’re here for the poem and its performance.
Voice & Presence – How does the delivery inhabit the poem?
Sonic Craft – Rhythm, cadence, repetition, musicality, texture
Poetic Strength – Imagery, language, structure, originality
What We’re Listening For
How Judging Works
The Ps&Qs Award uses a blind-review process guided by a panel of judges from across the poetry, publishing, and performance landscape.
Judges independently select their top five picks based solely on the sound, presence, and craft of each recording.
Full announcement soon.
Basic Framework
Length: Up to 2 minutes
Format: Audio only (MP3/WAV/M4A)
Entry Fee: $8 per poem
Prizes: $250 / $125 / $75 + publication & showcase
Eligibility: Open to all poets; simultaneous submissions welcome
Blind Judging: No names in the audio; we strip metadata before judging
We’ll also provide a step-by-step guide on how to record and upload your poem once submissions open.