Canberra, July 30, 2026. The call for entries for the 2026 José Martí Poetry Competition was officially opened on July 26. This regional literary initiative seeks to honor the life, work, and legacy of Cuba's National Hero, José Martí, and to promote cultural exchange among the peoples of Oceania. The competition, organized by the World Poetry Movement – Oceania (WPM-Oceania) and Multicultural Press Australia, is supported by the Center for Martí Studies (Cuba) and the Cuban Embassy in Australia, and is the first poetry competition dedicated to Martí in this region of the world.
The call for entries invites poets, writers, students, and literature lovers residing in the countries and islands of Oceania to participate by submitting an original poem that explores Martí's values and principles, including freedom, justice, human dignity, cultural identity, international solidarity, and the contemporary relevance of his literary and political work. The contest aims to foster intercultural dialogue, literary creativity, and a deeper appreciation of José Martí's support for world literature and the struggles for independence and social justice.
The submission period runs from July 26 to September 26, 2026, and the awards ceremony will take place on January 28, 2027, in honor of José Martí's birthday. Among the benefits for participants are honorable mentions and the publication of selected poems in an international anthology.
The Embassy of Cuba in Australia welcomes this valuable cultural initiative and acknowledges the commitment of WPM-Oceania, Multicultural Press Australia, and the Center for Martí Studies to promoting Martí's thought and strengthening cultural ties between Cuba and the peoples of Oceania. It also expresses its gratitude for the enthusiasm of the regional literary community and encourages all interested parties to participate, especially Cuban poetry lovers residing in the region, and to spread the word about this call for submissions, which provides a significant opportunity to celebrate the creativity and universal legacy of José Martí.