Asheville Poetry Review is an annual literary journal that publishes 180–220 pages of poems, interviews, translations, essays, historical perspectives, and book reviews. Since its inception in 1994, Asheville Poetry Review has published over 1800 new and established writers from 22 different countries, including Robert Bly, Patricia Smith, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Joy Harjo, Gary Snyder, Billy Collins, Yusef Komunyakaa, Eavan Boland, R. S. Thomas, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Fred Chappell, Ciaran Carson, and Colette Inez. From its first regional issue, Asheville Poetry Review has grown into an international publication with distribution to major bookstores across the U.S. and Canada as well as to many independent bookstores in the U.S. and in several European countries.
In December 2025, founder and Managing Editor Keith Flynn was diagnosed with inoperable cancer. Because of this, the 2025 Issue of THE ASHEVILLE POETRY REVIEW will be our last. Since we have already been taking submissions for the 2026 WILLIAM MATTHEWS PRIZE, we will keep our deadline of JANUARY 15th 2026 and the winners and finalists for the 2026 MATTHEWS PRIZE will be published in our last issue, along with the 2025 winners. That issue will be released in MARCH 2026. Our new website will remain as a free and accessible archive for the foreseeable future.
The 2026 William Matthews Poetry Prize
Asheville Poetry Review offers a $1,000 prize for a single poem through its annual William Matthews Poetry Prize.
First Prize: $1,000 and publication in Asheville Poetry Review
Second Prize: $250 and publication
Third Prize: Publication
2026 Judge: Ted Kooser
The judge will not see any names or other identifying information. All submissions will be considered for publication.
Submit 3 poems in a single file, any style, any subject, any length. Previously published work and translations are not eligible. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but notify us immediately if a poem is accepted for publication elsewhere.
Deadline: January 15, 2026
Submissions must be sent online through Submittable.