2026 Sidewalk Poetry Workshop

Announcing the 2026 Sidewalk Poetry Contest
This spring, Public Art Saint Paul invites you to help transform our city’s sidewalks into spaces of reflection, beauty, and shared voice. In partnership with the Capitol Region Watershed District, the 2026 Sidewalk Poetry Contest opens for submissions from May 4 through June 3, 2026.

Kickoff Workshop + Info Session
Looking for inspiration or guidance before you submit? Join us on May 9, from 1–4 PM, for an engaging Info Session and Poetry Workshop hosted by the Capitol Region Watershed District. It’s a chance to explore ideas, connect with others, and deepen your approach to this year’s theme.

Who Can Participate
Writers of all ages and experience levels are welcome, from first-time poets to seasoned voices. To be eligible, participants must live in the City of Saint Paul.

What to Submit
Sidewalk poems are brief but powerful. Each poem should be 200–300 characters (including spaces), and you may submit up to two poems.

Theme: Water
This year’s theme is Water, inspired by the Capitol Region Watershed District’s We Are Water exhibit. We encourage you to explore water in all its forms: personal, environmental, cultural, and symbolic.

Languages
To reflect the richness of Saint Paul’s communities, submissions are welcomed in Dakota, Hmong, Karen, Somali, Spanish, and English. If you submit in a language other than English, please include an English translation directly after the original text in the same submission field.

How to Submit
Follow and enter your submission via this link. Participants are able to submit up to two poems.

See the Winning Poems from 2023

Final Notes
Selected poems will become part of Saint Paul’s public landscape, appearing on sidewalks across the city. PASP will contact all submitters and announce the winning poems at the end of June. Winners will also be invited to record their poem to be featured on the PASP website.

The 2026 Sidewalk Poetry Contest is made possible through the generous support of the Capitol Region Watershed District.