Guild Literary Complex

It’s that time again! SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN! ⭐️🎤The Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Awards (GBOMA) is an annual poetry competition founded by Gwendolyn Brooks (1917 - 2000) and open to all Illinois residents over the age of 18.

The top contestants will be selected by our guest judge and will be invited to perform their original poems at the live finals event, where the audience favorite is awarded the $500 prize

🖊️ Deadline to submit: July 23rd, 2026
🖊️ Finalists will be announced the week of August 31st.
🖊️ The live event will take place the 1st week of October – date and location TBA

Click the 🔗 in our bio for guidelines and submission form