Dank Poet Dispensary Announces 'Poetry Contest 2026' Centered on Theme 'Kindness, Chosen'

Submissions due April 6, 2026 | Finalists notified April 12, 2026 | Finalist reading and winner announcement April 26, 2026

WASHINGTON, NJ, UNITED STATES, March 20, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Dank Poet Dispensary today announced the Dank Poet Dispensary – Poetry Contest 2026, a poetry contest inviting eligible writers to submit original, unpublished poems inspired by the theme “Kindness, Chosen.” The contest is open to individuals 21 years of age or older who have at least one poem published in a journal (online or print), or who have received a notice of publication before April 6, 2026. Submissions must be emailed as a single PDF to Poetry@dankpoet.com by April 6, 2026. There is no fee to enter.

Finalists will be notified on April 12, 2026, and 10 finalists will be selected to read their work at a special in-person event on Sunday, April 26, 2026, hosted at Dank Poet Dispensary, where the contest winner will also be announced.

“Kindness, Chosen” invites poets to explore compassion not as a passive idea, but as a deliberate practice—especially during moments of conflict, fear, division, or change. The theme honors kindness as strength and leadership, and it highlights the ways everyday decisions can shape culture, repair relationships, and build community across differences.

A Poetry Contest Designed to Highlight Craft, Clarity, and Community
The Dank Poet Dispensary – Poetry Contest 2026 will be judged by a panel comprising published poets and educators, as well as cannabis industry professionals with literary experience. Judges will review entries anonymously and select finalists based on the quality of writing, connection to the theme, originality, and overall impact.

The contest is designed to support writers while also creating a public moment for poetry through the finalist event. At the April 26 reading, finalists will share their poem(s) for broadcast in-store and through an online stream. Finalists will also be expected to provide a short biography and an author photograph.

Theme: “Kindness, Chosen”
In a time when division is loud and outrage travels fast, kindness can feel like a bold act. “Kindness, Chosen” asks poets to look closely at compassion as something practiced on purpose—sometimes quietly, sometimes publicly, and often at personal cost. The theme encourages writers to explore both self-kindness and kindness toward others, including the complexities of accountability, repair, restraint, empathy, and resilience.

Suggested directions for poets include:
Choosing grace in moments of conflict
Kindness as courage, restraint, or repair
Quiet acts that ripple outward
Self-kindness as survival or transformation
Finding humanity where it’s least expected
Kindness as an act of rebellion or resistance

Submission Guidelines and Key Rules
Entrants are encouraged to read all rules carefully before submitting. Questions may be sent to Poetry@dankpoet.com.

Submission format:
Submit up to three poems in a single PDF
Each poem must include a title
Each poem must not exceed 50 lines (title excluded)
Poems must be written in English
Any non-English words should include a footnote with a definition
Entries are judged anonymously; the author’s name must not appear on the poem itself

Original work and publication status:
Poems must be original work by the author
AI-generated poems are not allowed
Poems must not have been published, self-published, posted publicly online, shared on social media, broadcast, or featured among winners in another competition before April 6, 2026
If using found text, erasure, or other non-traditional methods, source text(s) must be credited at the end of each poem

Additional general rules:
Competition is open to individuals aged 21+
All selected finalists must be able to attend the April 26, 2026, event at Dank Poet Dispensary
No current employee of Dank Poet Dispensary or their family members are eligible to enter
Poems may not be altered after entry
Judges’ decisions are final, and neither judges nor staff will enter into correspondence

Prizes and Recognition
There will be one winner selected and 10 finalists chosen in total.
The winner will receive:
$150 cash prize
The winning poem will be published on the Dank Poet Dispensary website and displayed at the Dank Poet Dispensary location
A prize pack of Dank Poet Dispensary-branded merchandise
A 25% discount to be used on a future purchase at Dank Poet Dispensary
A prize pack of products from select cannabis vendors

Note: Due to state requirements, cannabis products cannot be given for free, and a nominal charge of $1 must be charged for prizes.

Runner-ups will receive:
Publication of their poems on the Dank Poet Dispensary’s website
A 15% discount on a future visit
Select items from vendors

Note: Due to state requirements, a small $1 charge may be required for certain prize items.

Copyright and Publishing
Copyright of each poem remains with the author. However, by entering the competition, authors of the winning poems grant Dank Poet Dispensary the right in perpetuity to publish and/or broadcast their poem. If poems are used elsewhere or published, authors are asked to provide credits to Dank Poet Dispensary.

Dates to Remember
Submissions Due: April 6, 2026
Finalists Notified: April 12, 2026
Finalists Reading & Winner Announcement: April 26, 2026

How to Enter
To enter the Dank Poet Dispensary – Poetry Contest 2026, email your poems as one PDF to: Poetry@dankpoet.com by April 6, 2026.

Coltan Peterson
Dank Poet Dispensary
+1 908-450-9900
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