Daniel Schonning Wins 2026 Montreal Poetry Prize
The poet takes home the $20,000 top award for his piece titled Tallow after competing against 4,500 worldwide entries.
Updated on Oct. 24, 2026 in Language Learning
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Daniel Schonning has been awarded the 2026 Montreal International Poetry Prize for his poem Tallow. He emerged as the winner from a field of 60 finalists chosen from over 4,500 global submissions.
Why it matters
The prize honors significant achievements in contemporary poetry and provides professional recognition on an international scale. This win adds to a notable year for Schonning, whose debut collection also earned a major literary award earlier in 2026.
The competition awarded a $20,000 cash prize to the winner selected from more than 4,500 total entries. A jury narrowed the initial submissions to 60 finalists before the final selection was made.
The players
Daniel Schonning
He is a poet and professor of practice in creative writing at HWS who graduated from the school in 2016.
Natalie Diaz
She is a poet who served as the final judge for the 2026 Montreal International Poetry Prize.
The details
Poet Natalie Diaz served as the final judge for the competition and selected Schonning's work as the winner. Schonning, a 2016 HWS graduate, currently serves as a professor of practice in creative writing at the same institution.
Timeline
Summer 2026: Schonning received the Poetry Society of America's Four Quartets Prize.
Summer 2026: Schonning read Tallow at a Seneca Review poetry reading.
October 2026: Daniel Schonning won the Montreal International Poetry Prize.
Culture Shift
This win follows the prestige established by the Poetry Society of America's Four Quartets Prize, which Schonning also won earlier this year. The recognition highlights a growing trend of consistent critical acclaim for emerging poets across multiple international literary platforms.
Readers interested in contemporary literature can anticipate the inclusion of Tallow in the upcoming 2026 Montreal Prize Anthology. The recognition serves as a guide for those seeking highly regarded new poetry to add to their personal reading lists.
The takeaway
Schonning's success demonstrates the impact of participating in high-profile literary competitions to gain professional visibility. Aspiring writers can look to his trajectory of entering reputable contests as a model for developing a career in creative writing.
Further reading
For more on evolving literary trends, visit the Language Learning section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Fingerlakes1.
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