Competitions and Opportunities – Australian Haiku Society

2026 Haiku Society of America one-day Virtual Conference

Recently the Haiku Society of America posted on its home page (https://www.hsa-haiku.org/index.htm) details of its 2026 virtual one-day conference, to be held on November 28. Theme: Cutting Through our Times.

I heartily invite you, members of the Australian Haiku Society, and all interested haiku poets to consider submitting proposals for conference consideration. Please note, however, that such submissions are due by October 10.

Sincerely,
Michael Dudley
International Coordinator
Haiku Society of America

Results of the ‘Spring Flowers’ contest, 24 August 2026

A big thank you to everyone who entered the Australian Haiku Society’s “Spring Flowers” haiku contest in August. This was the first time we conducted a contest to correspond with the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival. The contest was open to haiku poets around Australia and attracted 54 entries, with all states and the ACT represented (ACT: 3, NSW: 23, QLD: 5, SA: 2, TAS: 6, VIC:11, WA: 4). Poets who entered were a mix of established and less experienced poets, including at least nine children – seven from one school and two siblings.

Reminder – ‘Spring Flowers’ contest closing 17th August

Australian poets are reminded that the ‘Spring Flowers’ themed haiku contest is closing soon. You’ll need to submit your poem by 5pm AEST on Monday 17th August. See the previous post for further details of the contest and the entry form you’ll need to use.

confluence journal: Call for Fellowship Submissions

confluence offers emerging haiku and tanka poets a unique opportunity to showcase a representative selection of their work and to collaborate with other poets. Each issue of the journal will feature 1 to 2 poet Fellows and publish at least 15 poems of the selected poet’s work along with critical commentary by other poets. Fellows join a year-long cohort, with opportunities for collaborative writing, monthly craft discussions, and one-on-one mentorship with an established Japanese short-form poet. Submissions are open through August 31, 2026 at confluence haiku.

Confluence journal postcard exchange project

The confluence journal has initiated a northern hemisphere ‘Summer Postcard Project‘, involving the exchange of postcards each containing a Japanese short form poem. David Green, confluence associate editor, writes:

‘Spring Flowers’ Haiku Contest for Australian Poets now closed

In the lead up to the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival at Auburn Botanic Gardens, the Australian Haiku Society is running a haiku contest with the theme of ‘Spring Flowers’. We invite Australian poets to submit one haiku on this theme using the form below. Submissions closed at 5pm AEST on Monday 17th August.

Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival ‘Spring Flowers’ Contest opens 1st August

In the lead up to the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival, being held again in late August at Auburn Botanic Gardens, the Australian Haiku Society is running a haiku contest this year with the theme of ‘Spring Flowers’. We will be inviting Australian poets only to submit one haiku on this theme. The submission period will be from 1st August, closing at 5pm AEST on Monday 17th August. Results will be announced at a haiku event during the festival on Monday 24th August commencing at 10am. Prepare your best work and stay tuned for the submission form, which will be available from 1st August.

Haiku Northwest’s 23rd annual Porad Award

Haiku Northwest’s 23rd annual Porad Award opens for haiku submissions on July 14.

The contest is named for Francine Porad, founder of Haiku Northwest, former president of the Haiku Society of America, and editor of Brussels Sprout.

Adjudicating the 2026 award will be Antoinette Cheung, former co-editor of Prune Juice and the journal Confluence. Her work has appeared in journals and anthologies including New Resonance 14 and The Red Moon Anthology of English-Language Haiku, and in 2023 she was shortlisted for The Haiku Foundation’s Touchstone Award. She has also received honours including Haiku Canada’s Betty Drevniok Award, the Basho-an Award, and top recognition in the Vancouver Cherry Blossom Festival haiku competition.

The entry fee is $5 for up to five haiku, and the deadline is August 30th. See the Haiku Northwest 2026 Porad Award site for more details. We look forward to your submissions.

Luke Brannon
2026 Porad Award Coordinator
Haiku Northwest