Golden Haiku Poetry Competition opens for 2026

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sunday, January 11, 2026; 11:59 p.m. ET

Originating in Japan, haiku is the shortest form of poetry in the world. In a short descriptive verse, it captures a moment in the poet’s life or simply expresses the beauty of nature.

For more than a decade, the Golden Triangle BID has hosted the Golden Haiku poetry competition to bring pops of warmth, color, and inspiration to the streets of DC’s downtown during the late winter months and into the spring. Each year, we invite the public to write and submit original, contemporary haiku for this temporary community art project. In 2021, we introduced a youth category, inviting students to explore haiku and perhaps become published poets. The competition is open to all ages, worldwide.

Submissions are reviewed by an expert panel of judges; winning poets receive prizes, and selected haiku are displayed on colorful street signs in the tree boxes lining some of Washington DC’s most iconic streets from March into May. The colorful haiku signs brighten the winter landscape for all passersby to enjoy, reminding them during those late winter months that spring is just around the corner.

The competition’s popularity has grown each year; it is internationally recognized and beloved by locals and visitors alike. In 2025, we received 4,750+ haiku worldwide, including entries from 66 countries.

Read the guidelines and enter here.