Most traditional poetry manuscript publishers charge their readers a fee to submit. You can read about why that is the case here. This article focuses on a number of poetry manuscript publishers who do not charge submission fees to writers, which is good news for poets.
This is the longest and most accurate list of poetry manuscript publishers who do not charge fees for online or postal submissions.
A number of the publishers on this list have at least one free reading period a year, where they will consider all the manuscripts submitted to them. A few of the publishers are open all the time. Some have a limited window that can be as short as two days, or as long as three months. Some have newsletters that notify potential submitters when they re-open. If that is the case I mention that as part of the listing.
On most of our lists it isn’t unusual for a few of the publishers to be closed, but the numbers are much higher here, because poetry publishers generally have shorter submission windows, and some only read submissions through fee-free contests.
The presses listed here change dramatically every year, even if the number listed doesn’t shift that much. That is because between presses closing (to submissions or period), or moving towards a paid model, it’s normal for me to remove up to 20 presses a year, and then add 20 new ones.
A number of them have geographic or other limitations, but the majority are open to authors of any nationality and background. The list is in no particular order.
Unlike other lists and reviews on Authors Publish, I do not do full background checks or complete reviews on all the publishers.
That is partially because the task would be overwhelming in terms of time and also because most poetry presses are small and it is hard to find out that much about them, but I still spend at least 15 minutes looking into most of the presses before adding them.
I eliminated any press that had glaring red flags, but please research any of the presses on the list you are considering submitting to. To learn more about what to look out for, please go here.
Also it’s important to note, that just because a press qualifies for this list, it in no way makes it an automatic good fit for your poetry manuscript.
There are a lot of presses on this list that I would not submit to. Some I admire, but my poetry would not be a good fit. Some don’t have good enough distribution for my personal needs. These are just two examples, but I hope they help make my point, that you should make sure that presses meet your personal criteria and are a good fit for your work before submitting work to them.
It is also important to note that most poetry manuscript publishers want their authors to have a track record of publication. Most want to see a history of authors publishing their work in literary journals. If you haven’t started submitting to literary journals yet, reading Submit, Publish, Repeat is a good place to start. This includes publishing poems that are in the manuscript you are submitting. If you open any traditionally published book of poems there is usually a list of poems that have been previously published in the back of the book.
In the free eBook, Poem to Book, I talk more about the steps poets can take to make their manuscripts more publishable. The end of that eBook includes an outdated version of this list. Please refer to this list instead.
Please spend time with the presses catalog and submission guidelines before proceeding to make sure your work is a good fit, and appropriately submitted.
Three people work on this list every year, and I am grateful for everyone’s contributions. On average it takes over 30 hours to update and add to this list, a process we undertake yearly. It is far from our most successful list, but it is the one closest to my heart.
If you know of another publisher who belongs on this list, or if you find an error or an update for this list, please email support@authorspublish.com.
Also, If you are not opposed to paying submission fees, this Substack focuses on poetry manuscript publishing opportunities, and they sometimes help writers pay the fees. I found some of the fee-free presses listed there and I think they are very much worth supporting.
- Sea Crow Press
A small press that publishes literary fiction and poetry that was started in 2020 that is seeking Eco-Poetry manuscripts only. You can learn more here. - Arte Público Press
Arte Público Press, affiliated with the University of Houston, specializes in publishing contemporary novels, short stories, poetry, and drama based on U.S. Hispanic (Cuban American, Mexican American, Puerto Rican, and others) cultural issues and themes. To learn more, refer to their submissions page. - June Road Press
A small US-based press that publishes wonderful poetry collections, and they do not accept work from international writers. This year they are not reading for poetry collections, but are accepting individual poems for consideration in an anthology. You can learn more here. - House of Anansi Press
This is an established Canadian press that also publishes nonfiction and literary fiction. They only accept submissions from Canadian citizens and residents. They are generally open to submissions of prose and poetry. You can learn more about them here. They are currently scheduled out to 2030 for poetry collections so if you want your work to be published on the earlier side of things, they are not the right fit for you currently. They also are currently going through some restructuring which you can learn more about here. - Carcanet
A UK-based publisher of poetry. They have one to two reading periods a year with specific limitations. They have yet to announce their 2026 submission period. To learn more about their submission guidelines, visit their website here. - Ekstasis Editions
A Canadian publisher of poetry manuscripts. They have been around since 1982. They usually consider submissions from Canadians only. To read their submission guidelines, go here. You can visit their main page here. - Coach House Books
Coach House Books publishes innovative poetry, literary fiction, drama and select nonfiction, primarily by Canadian authors. They accept only 10 or so submissions per year. You can learn more here.They plan to reopen to fiction and nonfiction submissions on January 15th, they are still open for poetry submissions. - Northwestern University Press
A university press open to unsolicited poetry manuscript submissions. Learn more here. Please note that you have to scroll down for the poetry manuscript guidelines. They are not open to submissions at the time of this update. - Cornerstone Press
You can read our full review of the press here, They publish a number of genres including poetry manuscripts. Learn more here. - Salmon Poetry
This Irish poetry press asks that you query first. They are currently closed to new submissions. Learn more about them here. - Nine Arches Press
A small poetry publisher. You must have a track record or a small audience in the UK to be seriously considered by them. They plan to reopen to submissions in August 2026. To learn more, refer to their submission guidelines. - Unicorn Press
A North Carolina-based poetry publisher. They have one reading period a year and do not consider work outside of that. In 2026, they will be open from May 1st through June 30th. Learn more here. - Faber
This respected British publisher is open to unsolicited submissions of poetry only. Learn more here. - Parlyaree Press
Parlyaree Press was established in 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. They are focused on publishing work that “expands, reveals, and interrogates the mainstream”. They want their books to “exist in the liminal space between what was and what will be.” In terms of poetry they want chapbook-length (or longer!) poetry collections. See our review of them here and their submission guidelines here. - Bench
Bench is a new small literary press focused on publishing prose and poetry. They only publish 2-4 books per year. At the time of this update they are closed. To learn more, go here. - Querencia Press
We’ve reviewed this small press here. You can see their submission guidelines here. They are currently closed to submissions but plan to reopen in 2026. - Acre Books
Acre Books is an imprint of The Cincinnati Review. They focus on publishing literary fiction and poetry. They are interested in novels and short story collections. They are not accepting submissions of full manuscripts. They ask that authors query first. Read our review here. They have an open reading period for poetry in January. - Persea Books
A respected literary publisher open to queries. Read our review here. - ECW Press
They are only open to fiction and poetry books submitted by Canadians; there are no citizenship restrictions on writers submitting nonfiction. Learn more here. - Puncher & Wattmann
This small press tries to have a reading period every year. They haven’t announced an upcoming one yet. You can learn more here. - Turtle Point Press
They accept only a couple of new authors a year, but they are open to querying. They only respond if they are interested in seeing more. You can learn more here. - Great Place Books
This small but ambitious press only publishes 1-2 books per year. They publish prose and poetry and you can read our full review here. - Lamar University Press
They publish poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and drama. They are only open to submissions in April and November. You can learn more here. - Wolsak and Wynn
They publish books by Canadian authors mainly, and discourage non-Canadian residents from submitting. They accept submissions from January 1st to March 31st each year. Learn more here. - Two Plum Press
Two Plum Press produces slim volumes of literary works both contemporary and classic. Titles include works of poetry, essays, fiction, philosophy, visual art, travel, and food writing. You can learn more about them here. - Brick Books
An established and respected Canadian publisher, they are open only to submissions from Canadians. They generally have only one submission period a year. To learn more, go here. - Biblioasis
This literary press is based in Windsor, Ontario. They publish poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. You can learn more here. They only allow submissions via Duosuma. - CLASH Books
CLASH Books started in 2015, They publish fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. They stress that they are “extremely selective about poetry”. Learn more here. - Invisible Publishing
Invisible Publishing publishes literary fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction. Read more here. - Alaska Literary Series
Published by the University of Alaska Press, this series publishes only work by those with a connection to or writing about Alaska, or the circumpolar north. Learn more here and here, make sure to click on the subheading for the University of Alaska Press. - Broken Sleep Books
A UK-based company that publishes contemporary poetry and prose of a more experimental slant. They have four open reading periods a year each with different parameters. Learn more here. - Deep Vellum
They are a nonprofit publisher of poetry, nonfiction, and prose, open to submissions based on queries. Learn more here. - Green Writers Press
Green Writers Press is a rural Vermont-based publishing house that aims to spread environmental awareness and social justice. They publish poetry, fiction, nonfiction, and youth literature. They are open to submissions from March 1, 2026, until June 1, 2026. Learn more here. - Changes Press
They are planning to have a general open reading period for full length manuscripts in spring 2026. Learn more here. - Game Over Books
A press that publishes excellent work and is periodically open to submissions. They are not currently open to submissions Learn more here. - Bad Betty Press
They are a UK-based publisher of chapbooks and full length manuscripts. Because of lack of government funding last year they did not have an open reading period in 2025. It’s unclear if they will have a reading period in 2026, but I’m keeping them on the list for now, just in case. You can learn more here. - Shearsman Books
A UK-based publisher of poetry. Read their guidelines carefully. Learn more here. - Luath Press
This UK-based press publishes a wide variety of genres, including poetry. Learn more here. - Black Ocean
They have a number of submission periods, some with limited demographics, others without. Learn more here. - Vine Leaves Press
They publish poetry under their Vignettes imprint, they also publish hybrid work. They generally have at least one submission period a year. They are currently open to submissions through the 31st of January 2026. To learn more, go here. - Broadstone Books
A small press that primarily publishes poetry. Their current reading period closes at midnight EST January 31, 2026. They have very detailed and helpful FAQs that must be reviewed. Submissions are restricted to authors living at least part-time in North America. Learn more here. - Lily
A small press that publishes excellent poetry. They charge for general submissions, but offer free submissions for poets who identify as Black. Learn more here. - Texas Review Press
They have a number of reading periods a year, some are paid contests, some are free. All have a cap on 300 submissions so please submit early in the month that they are open (the first day is safest). Some of their submission periods are open to all authors and some have geographic limitations. To learn more, go here. - Green Bottle Press
A small UK press. They have no strict geographic restrictions but state “if you are submitting from outside the UK or Ireland, please consider if you have any friends or fans of your work in these islands. If you live in the US for example, you should have a strong network of readers here, otherwise it will be very hard to sell your work. It would be better for you to seek publication in your own country.” They are currently closed to submissions but will have their next reading period in April. To learn more, go here. - Jackleg Press
This small press primarily focuses on publishing poetry and short story collections. They only consider queries from US-based writers. You can learn more here. - Arc Publications
This established and respected UK based press is open to unsolicited manuscripts for its UK & Ireland list once a year, from the 1st through the 15th of June. You can learn more here. - Emma Press
This small but established UK based press tries to have one open reading period per year. At the time of this update no schedule has been shared. You can learn more here. - The Gallery Press
An Irish poetry press that publishes work by Irish and Ireland based poets. To learn more, go here. - BloodAxe Books
This UK-based press is established and respected, and will only consider poets who have not already published full-length collections, but have published widely in literary journals. They do not plan to be open to submissions this year because they currently have a full schedule. They are remaining on the list because they have a long track record of regularly being open to submissions. I will remove them from the list next year if things have not changed. Learn more here. - Action Books
A small press that publishes a range of genres including poetry, you can learn more about them here. You can sign up to be notified of when they reopen to submissions here. - Fernwood Press
A small royalty-paying press that publishes poetry. You can learn more here. - Woodhall Press
A small press that publishes a variety of work, including poetry. You can read our review of the press here.They reopen to submissions on January 15th, 2026. - Circling Rivers ]
A small press that is open to poetry and nonfiction submissions. They are closed to submissions at the time of this update. Learn more here. - Hub City Press
A respected press with great distribution. They publish books of literary fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, regional nonfiction, nature, and art. They only publish writers living in or from the southern US. They charge for some submission periods but not others. Some submission periods allow poetry, others do not. Learn more here. - Giramondo
Giramondo doesn’t have any strict guidelines in terms of geography, but they do appear to have a track record of publishing primarily writers from Australia and New Zealand, and they expect submitting writers to be familiar with their catalog. They publish quality poetry, nonfiction, and fiction. They have limited submission windows. On their website you can sign up to be notified when the next one opens. Learn more here. - Fremantle Press
They accept submissions of unsolicited manuscripts from authors of Western Australian origin or whose main place of residence is Western Australia, or non-Western Australian authors whose work has a strong Western Australian focus. They publish nonfiction, fiction and narrative nonfiction, poetry, and books for children and young adults. They reopen to poetry submissions on 28 February 2026. Learn more here. - Bottom Dog Press/ Bird Dog Publishing
They focus on publishing working class literature. Books must be a minimum of 80 pages. To read their submission guidelines, go here. - Black Lawrence Press
This press charges fees for most submissions but has one series that focuses on publishing the writing of Immigrants to the US, and is open to fee-free submissions by authors that are immigrants to the US. Learn more here. - Ben Yehuda Press
They only publish the work of Jewish poets and writers. Learn more here. - Arteidolia Press
An artist-run press based out of Ridgewood, Queens with focus on publishing collections of poetry, visual poetry, essays & experimental writing. You can learn more here. - World Poetry
This respected press has good distribution and is open to queries, but only of collections by single authors of poetry translated into English. They are also open to proposals in early June. You can learn more here. - Blue Cactus
They accept submissions for full-length manuscripts by women, transgender and gender-nonconforming People of Color in the Pacific Northwest on a rolling basis. They are not interested in receiving manuscript submissions from someone who doesn’t match this description. They are not open to poetry submissions during every submission period. Learn more here. - Yellow King Press
A small press open to submissions of poetry and short stories. They ask that you submit “no more than five poems or two short stories in a single word doc.” They are currently closed to submissions. Learn more here. - Peepal Tree Press
Peepal Tree specializes in Caribbean and Black British writing. They publish poetry and fiction. Learn more here. - Book *hug Press
A Canadian small press that focuses primarily on publishing Canadian authors. They publish a range of literary works, including poetry. They will reopen to submissions in 2027 Learn more here. - Counterpath Press
This small literary press only responds to queries they are interested in. Assume rejection if you have not heard from them in 90 days. Learn more here. - The African Poetry Book Funds Award: Sillerman First Book Prize University of Nebraska Press
This prize is for poets born in Africa, or who are nationals of an African country, or whose parents are African, and who have not yet had a full-length poetry book published. It is open to submissions annually between September 15th and December 1st. Details here. - Beautiful Days Press
A small press that focuses on poetry. They are closed to submissions but have an email list you can sign up for that announces reading period openings and publications. Learn more here. - Princeton Series of Contemporary Poets
They accept submissions every May for this prestigious and highly competitive series. You can learn more here. - Codhill Press: Guest Editors Poetry Series
In 2022 Codhill Press launched this series. They plan to be open to submissions again this May. They still have the guidelines up from last year’s session here. - Moon Tide Press
A small poetry focused press based out of Southern California. They only accept postal submissions. You can learn more here, and here. - Phoenix Poets Series: University of Chicago Press
The 2026 reading period opens on October 1st. All submitting poets must be over 21 and publishing their first or second book. Learn more here. - Nightwood Editions
A small press focused on publishing work of literary merit in Canada. They are only accepting work from Canadian writers. Learn more here. - The Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize
The Andrés Montoya Poetry Prize supports the publication of a first full-length book of poems by a Latinx poet residing in the United States. It is awarded every year and generally submissions close in February. The title will be published by the University of Nevada Press. The winner for 2025 has yet to be announced but the judge for 2026 is the Ruth Lilly Poetry Prize winner Rigoberto González. You can learn more here. - At Bay Press
A respected Canadian publisher, they only accept submissions from Canadian authors, something they only make clear as part of their submission form. They only publish a few titles every year, including poetry and literary fiction. Learn more here. - Louisiana State University Press
They accept a wide variety of submissions, including poetry. Learn more here. - Wet Cement Press
They publish 3-5 books a year, and poetry is one of the genres they publish. Learn more here. - Wayfarer Books
This book publisher and literary journal is currently only open to direct submissions from marginalized creators. You can learn more about that call here and you can learn more about the press here. - Turnstone Press
A small Canadian press, open to submissions from Canadian authors only. Learn more here. - Third Man Books
They publish only six titles a year across many genres, but are open to submissions. Learn more here. - 8th House Publishing
They took a few years off from publishing, and at one point, I thought they were fully defunct, but for over a year now they are back, actively publishing and open to submissions again. Learn more here. - EastOver Press
They publish collections of short stories, essays, and poetry, as well as the literary journal Cutleaf. They are currently closed, but when they have been open in the past, there is a cap at 100 submissions. To learn more, go here. - Wakefield Press
This small Australian press mostly publishes work from Australasia, including poetry collections. Although they don’t appear to have any strict guidelines about geographic limitations, I personally wouldn’t submit to them unless I was based in the region. You can learn more here. - Ronsdale Press
This Canadian small press is only open to submissions from Canadians with a track record of publishing their work. To learn more, go here. - Shanti Arts
Shanti Arts describes itself as “a fiercely independent publishing company whose work is grounded in nature, art, and spirit”. They publish poetry primarily. Learn more here. - Ranger Press (RPRESS)
RPRESS is “an avant garde micro-press specializing in showcasing the best visual and concrete poetry, as well as all hybrid and uncategorizable genres (text + visual)”. If they are interested they respond within 30 days. Otherwise assume rejection. They are currently closed to submissions. You can learn more here. - Plough Publishing House
Plough Publishing House was founded in 1920, and they publish books on faith, society, and the spiritual life, including collections of poetry. They have a very specific faith-based perspective. Please spend time on their site and with their catalog before submitting. To learn more, go here. - The University of Calgary Press; Brave and Brilliant Imprint
This University press’s literary imprint publishes poetry alongside other genres. They are currently closed to submissions but plan to announce their next reading period in April. They are only open to submissions from Canadian citizens and permanent residents. Learn more here. - Third Hand Books
They describe themselves by saying they “promote experimental writing with core commitments to the lyric, which is equipment for exploring the nature of human experience at the limits of language”. They are closed to submissions at the time of this update. To learn more, please visit their website here. - DarkWinter Press
This small Canadian press publishes novellas, novel-length manuscripts (85 000 words or less), short story collections, and poetry collections “with a twist. We do not publish creative non-fiction”. They are reopening to submissions only from Canadian writers in March 2026. To learn more, go here. - Silver Bow
This small press based out of Canada is open to poetry manuscript submissions, as well as other genres. They have specific submission guidelines that must be followed. Learn more here. - Palimpsest Press
They only publish Canadian authors. They are open to submissions from authors who identify as BIPOC, Deaf, or Disabled, all year round. They accept submissions from authors who do not identify as BIPOC, Deaf or Disabled from February 1st through March 31st. They publish poetry and other literary genres. Learn more here. - Pen & Anvil
This small press publishes a wide variety of literary work but are particularly interested in first collections by poets with a relationship to Boston or New England. To learn more, go here. - Red Rook Press
This student-run press focuses on publishing work by new and upcoming writers. To be eligible for publication, they state “you must be enrolled as a graduate or undergraduate student (at any institution) during the semester of publication”. They are open to submissions till 1st April 2026. To learn more, go here. - Serving House Books
They are open to fee-free submissions of poetry collections once a year. In 2026, the fee-free reading period is until 28th February. To learn more, go here. - The Poetic Justice Institute Prizes
Formerly called the Poets Out Loud Prize, they have free submissions for BIPOC writers. They only have one reading period a year, in the early fall. You can learn more here. - Perugia Press Prize
This feminist press publishes women, inclusive of gender-expansive identities. Their reading period is during the fall. They have a submission fee, but waive it for all BIPOC submitters. You can learn more here. - White Stag Publishing
They describe themselves by saying “White Stag is looking for full length poetry manuscripts in the scope of our thematic elements, which can include themes of alchemy & the occult, mysticism & spirituality, folklore & mythos, the speculative or supranatural, or intersections of witchcraft & activism.” They are open to submissions including poetry manuscripts, only from US residents or individuals with a US mailing address. Their open reading period closes February 1st, 2026. You can learn more here. - Lit Fox Books
This nonprofit press is based in Austin, TX.They offer a fee-free period for a book award every year, usually in December. The 2026 fee-free period ends on 15th January. To learn more, go here. - Andrews McMeel Publishing
We’ve reviewed this established and well distributed press here. In the past five years they have focused more on publishing a very specific kind of poetry, generally classified as “instapoetics”. They are very successful in this space, and you can see what they currently publish here. To learn more or submit, go here. - Inanna Publications and Education Inc
This Canadian feminist press allows international submissions and publishes poetry as well as other genres. They plan to reopen to submissions in 2026, but have not announced an exact date. You can learn more here. - Wildhouse Press
Wildhouse Press (WHP) is a small press based in Boston, that started actively publishing work in 2021. Their tagline is “Adventurous Spirituality – for unconventional people.” You can read our full review of them here. They generally have one reading period a year, usually in the fall. You can learn more on their website here. - Yale University Press They are only open to submissions of poetry in translation. You can learn more in our full review of the press here.
- Another New Calligraphy
This small but established Chicago based literary press. They have a very distinct catalog which you can get a feel for here. Their submission guidelines are here. - Bainbridge Island Press
This small press is open to submissions from poets for their first book only. Manuscripts should be approx 80-120 pages in length. They publish many books a year. To learn more, go here. - Doubleback Books and Sundress Publishing
Doubleback Books is an imprint of Sundress Publishing that reprints books from small independent presses that have closed. They host one open reading period a year, generally from May to August with submissions made via email. Sundress Publishing as a whole has an open reading period for books that have never been previously published, and they offer free submissions to BIPOC poets, they also are starting to have a fee-free period during some reading periods. You can learn more here and here.
Emily Harstone is the author of many popular books, including The Authors Publish Guide to Manuscript Submissions, Submit, Publish, Repeat, and The 2025 Guide to Manuscript Publishers. She regularly teaches three acclaimed courses on writing and publishing at The Writer’s Workshop at Authors Publish. You can follow her on Facebook here.
