Ahmed Fouad Negm Prize for Colloquial Poetry Opens for Submissions

The Ahmed Fouad Negm Prize for Egyptian Colloquial Poetry has officially opened submissions for its 12th edition, continuing its mission to honour Egypt’s spoken-word legacy and spotlight new poetic voices. Named after the iconic poet and revolutionary Ahmed Fouad Negm, the annual award is one of the country’s most significant literary honours dedicated to colloquial Arabic.

Applications are open from May 22nd through July 22nd, 2025. Eligible participants must submit a poetry collection written in Egyptian colloquial Arabic. The competition is open to living poets under 40, and each may submit only one collection. Submissions can be made directly by the poet or through nominations by publishers, universities, or cultural institutions, with the poet’s written consent.

The top poetry prize is valued at EGP 150,000, while an additional EGP 400,000 will be distributed among the 10 finalists. The award is presented to the poet, rather than any affiliated publisher, emphasising personal recognition.

Alongside the poetry prize, a separate category is dedicated to critical studies on colloquial Egyptian poetry. This includes published books or academic theses—master’s or doctoral—completed between January 2020 and July 22nd, 2025. There is no age limit for this category, and one winner will receive EGP 50,000.

Submissions must include the poet’s collection, a completed nomination form, and a copy of their national ID. Applications can be delivered in person to the prize’s headquarters in Agouza, Giza, or mailed by post, provided they arrive by the final deadline.

Winners will be announced on December 3rd, 2025, marking 11 years since Ahmed Fouad Negm’s passing.