ICESCO Launches Third Edition of “Cities of Poetry” Competition in Celebration of Kazan, Culture Capital in the Islamic World
2 November 2026
The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) has launched the third edition of its “Cities of Poetry” competition, celebrating this year Kazan, Republic of Tatarstan, as part of the city’s proclamation as Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2026.
The competition, organized by ICESCO Center for Poetry and Literature, aims to celebrate the Culture Capitals in the Islamic World by highlighting the enduring connection between poetry and place, which has inspired timeless masterpieces of world poetry over the centuries. It also seeks to document cities’ history and geography through poetry and aesthetics, while honoring the figures and civilizations that shaped the glory of the Culture Capitals in the Islamic World.
For the first time, the third edition is open to entries in three languages: Classical Arabic, Tatar, and Russian. This reflects Kazan’s rich cultural diversity and enables a broader range of poets to participate.
Submissions will remain open until 31 January 2027. A specialized committee from ICESCO, together with a group of renowned poets, will then evaluate the entries and select three winners. The first-prize winner will receive US$3,000, the second-prize winner US$2,000, and the third-prize winner US$1,000. ICESCO will also publish a collection featuring the winning poems and other notable submissions.
Entry requirements are as follows:
• The poem must be written in Classical Arabic, Tatar, or Russian;
• Arabic poems must adhere to classical (vertical) or free verse meters, while poems in Tatar or Russian must conform to the metrical and aesthetic standards of Tatar and Russian poetry, respectively;
• The poem must draw inspiration from Kazan’s values, aesthetics, history, geography, prominent figures, unique character, and heritage;
• The poem must not exceed 30 verses or lines;
• Winning poets may not participate in the next consecutive edition of the competition.
ICESCO invites poets of all ages to participate in the competition through the following link:
https://icesco.org/qpoz
