The Griffin Poetry Prize is planning to hold a town hall meeting as part of its efforts to review and update its structure. Scott Griffin, the prize’s benefactor, recently sought feedback online regarding the literary award. This move comes after facing criticism for changes made to the award bearing his name over the past three years.
Formerly, the Griffin Poetry Prize consisted of two separate awards, each valued at $65,000 – one for an international poet and one for a Canadian poet. However, in 2022, Griffin announced a modification where the prizes would be combined into a single $130,000 fund accessible to poets worldwide. Additionally, a $10,000 prize is now dedicated to the first poetry book penned in English by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.
Critics expressed concerns that the alteration disadvantaged Canadian poets, particularly evident when this year’s long list was released without any Canadian names. In response, the Griffin Trust initiated a survey, which garnered feedback from 285 participants.
The town hall, scheduled for noon on May 25, will be conducted both in-person and online, just a little over a week before this year’s Griffin Poetry Prize ceremony. The physical event will take place at Victoria College, University of Toronto.
The winner of the 2026 Griffin Poetry Prize will be revealed on June 3 during a grand event in Toronto. Last year’s recipient was German poet Durs Grünbein for “Psyche Running,” translated by Karen Leeder. Margaret Atwood was honored with the lifetime achievement award, and the Canadian First Book Prize was claimed by Whitehorse writer Dawn Macdonald for “Northerny.”
Notable past Canadian awardees include Tolu Oloruntoba, Billy-Ray Belcourt, Anne Carson, Roo Borson, Dionne Brand, and Jordan Abel. For poetry enthusiasts, the CBC Poetry Prize for 2026 is currently open for submissions until June 1 at 4:59 p.m. ET. Interested participants are advised to review the competition’s rules and regulations before entering.