Publishers are invited to enter their poets for poetry award
By CityLife Arts Writer
AVBOB has officially opened entries for the second year of The JdL Award for Poetry. The award – named to honour the legacy of Johann de Lange, the late poet, translator, and editor-in-chief of The AVBOB Poetry Project – is a national competition celebrating outstanding published poetry by South Africans.
It is open exclusively to South African publishers and recognises the finest individual collections that demonstrate originality, craft, and a confident command of language. Each winning collection receives a cash prize of R10 000.
Why do we need awards like this?
South Africa’s poetry ecosystem is alive with skill and variety, yet individual collections still struggle to attain visibility and reach. This award is designed to help shift that reality by recognising published work, supporting the publishing of single-author collections in home languages, and elevating the voices shaping South Africa’s literary record.
The first year of the award set a strong benchmark, with winning collections recognised at the 2025 AVBOB Poetry Gala. In 2026, AVBOB is building on that momentum with a refreshed identity and an expanded language focus for the year.
Which languages are eligible for the 2026 award?
The JDL Award for Poetry follows a three-year language rotation. The 2026 cycle focuses on the following languages:
- Afrikaans
- isiNdebele
- isiXhosa
- Sesotho
In 2025, the focus was on English, IsiZulu, and Sepedi earning 25, 21, and 11 entries respectively. AVBOB is looking forward to seeing these numbers grow as the competition gains wider recognition.
What are the entry criteria for publishers?
Entries must be submitted by established South African publishers, and each collection must be the work of an individual South African citizen currently residing in South Africa. The award does not accept entries from poets, self-publishers or third parties.
Only poetry collections published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2025 are eligible for the 2026 award.
Publishers are encouraged to submit works that combine literary merit with emotional accessibility and reflect a range of voices and perspectives across South Africa’s multilingual society. Submissions from both established and emerging poets are welcomed.
What collections are not eligible?
To keep the award focused on original, single-author poetry collections, the following are not eligible:
- Children’s poetry books, nursery rhymes, and folklore
- Reprints, adaptations, translations, anthologies, joint collections by two or more writers, set books, and works in other genres
- Manuscripts, proofs, PDFs, or any digital submissions
How can publishers submit their collections?
Submissions are accepted in hard copy only. Publishers must submit three copies of each collection, with completed entry forms, via courier to the following address:
BRAND et al
Block F, Boardwalk Office Park
Haymeadow Crescent
Faerie Glen
Pretoria
0043
Documentation is available on the following pages:
Please note that submitted entries will not be returned.
When will the winners be announced?
Winning collections will be announced at the 2026 AVBOB Poetry Gala in September 2026. Travel and accommodation will be provided for each award recipient, offering poets and publishers an opportunity to be recognised on a national stage.
Publishers are welcome to request competition information or submit queries via: social@avbobpoetry.co.za.