Red Room Poetry Fellowship 2026
Australian poets are invited to apply for a week-long fellowship to foster poetic and professional development, including mentorship and publication opportunities with Red Room Poetry as part of Poetry Month.
Residency dates: Monday 24 August to Monday 31 August 2026
Applications open: 9am Tuesday 2 December 2025 (AEDT)
Applications close: 5pm Tuesday 3 February 2026 (AEDT)
Places: Five poets will be chosen to stay in person at Varuna, with one extra place for a sixth poet as part of the Anywhere Remote Fellowship.
Who should apply: Poets who have previously been programmed or commissioned by Red Room Poetry, and Emerging Poets who have had no more than one collection of poetry published.
Fees: There are no application fees or residency fees for this program. All poets receive a $1000 stipend each and in 2026, Red Room Poetry will have a limited travel pool available to support successful Fellows who need additional support to get to Varuna.
FAQ: Please read the FAQs before you apply.
In partnership with Red Room Poetry, the Red Room Poetry Fellowship recognises the achievements and artistic goals of contemporary Australian poets, supporting six poets to deeply engage with and develop their practice.
This opportunity encourages poets to undertake an intensive period of creative development including a residency at Varuna or remotely, mentorship, as well as a poetic commission to be published as part of Poetry Month in August. All six poets will be in residence simultaneously, establishing a community of practice, and encouraging new poetic connections.
The six 2026 Fellows will receive:
$1000 stipend
A one-week fellowship opportunity (Monday 24 August - Monday 31 August 2026), offered in two formats:
On-site Varuna Residency (five offered): Includes all meals and accommodation. Travel to and from Varuna must be arranged and paid for by the Fellows.
Anywhere Remote Fellowship (one offered): A self-directed remote fellowship undertaken from the Fellow’s own location (meals and accommodation are not provided).
A one-on-one mentoring consultation
Online publication of one poem for Poetry Month 2026 (additional artist fee)
In 2026, Red Room Poetry will have a limited travel pool available to support successful Fellows who need additional support (beyond the $1000 stipend) to get to Varuna.
At least one of the six places is reserved for a First Nations poet, at least one for a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse poet, and two for Emerging Poets. The Anywhere Remote Fellowship is designed to broaden access for poets who face additional barriers that may make travelling to Varuna a challenge.
Please refer to Red Room Poetry’s Terms and Conditions and FAQs before applying.
For more information about staying at Varuna, visit our Residencies page.
HOW TO APPLY
You will need to complete a short application form which will include:
Project description (1-2 sentences, 500 characters)
Details of previous projects or events you have been commissioned or programmed for in a paid capacity by Red Room Poetry (except for applicants to the Emerging Poets or Anywhere Remote Fellowships)
Impact statement: How will this opportunity benefit your creative development, and what are your goals for your Fellowship week? (1000 characters)
Three recent poems (max 3 pages) or audio poems (max 3 minutes). Please note, poems must be previously unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere.
Hi-res artist headshot and 50-word biography: To be used on our digital channels only if you are selected as a Fellow.
For Anywhere Remote Fellowship applicants: Outline how a remote Fellowship would benefit your practice.
Assessors will be looking at the following categories:
Impact: Potential for this Fellowship to support your creative development and advance your proposed poetic project, and demonstrated readiness to make the most of the opportunity.
Project Merit: The creative concepts, processes and poems submitted show a high degree of originality and contribute to the wider culture of contemporary poetry in Australia.
Work Sample: A publication opportunity as part of Poetry Month is included alongside the Fellowship, so we ask that poems submitted with your application be original, unpublished, and not out for submission elsewhere. Red Room Poetry does not publish poetry that has been created with the assistance of AI.
Alternative Submission Formats
Need a different format? We encourage all applicants to use the online form if possible, as this is the easiest way for us to manage applications. A Word version is available here for drafting your application.
If you need these guidelines in another format, or if you need to submit your application in a different format including video or audio, please email Red Room Poetry at access@redroompoetry.org.
Further questions about your application?
Please email Red Room Poetry or call 1800 POETRY. Please note that the Red Room Poetry office is closed from Mon 22 December 2025 -Mon 5 January 2026 and emails won't be answered during this time.
TESTIMONIALS
“What a beautiful, inclusive, refreshing retreat! My cup is full. I feel inspired to return to my project when I get home with an increased enthusiasm and confidence I gained while at Varuna.”
THE FINE PRINT:
If you have further queries, please email Red Room Poetry or call 1800 POETRY. Please note that the Red Room Poetry office is closed from Mon 22 December 2025 -Mon 5 January 2026 and emails won't be answered during this time.
UPCOMING FELLOWSHIPS COURSES AND EVENTS
