Griffin Poetry Prize

The Griffin Poetry Prize is one of the world's most generous prizes for poetry, awarded annually for a single collection written in or translated into English. Founded in 2000 by Canadian entrepreneur and philanthropist Scott Griffin, the prize was created to raise public awareness of the crucial role poetry plays in cultural life. From 2001 through 2022, the prize was divided into two annual awards of CAD $65,000 each: one for a Canadian poet and one for an international poet (including Canadians). In 2023, these two categories were consolidated into a single prize of CAD $130,000, making it the world's largest international prize for a single poetry collection. Concurrently, a new CAD $10,000 Canadian First Book Prize was introduced, along with a six-week Italian residency. Shortlisted poets each receive CAD $10,000. A Lifetime Recognition Award of CAD $25,000 is also bestowed by the trustees. The prize accepts submissions from publishers only. Eligible collections must have been published during the previous calendar year. The shortlist is announced each April during National Poetry Month, and the winner is revealed at a prestigious ceremony in Toronto in June. Past winners include Anne Carson, Susan Howe, Alice Oswald, Roger Reeves, and many other major figures in contemporary poetry.