Write a poem about love

Instructions for entering the poetry competition

The competition period is 14 September–18 October 2026. The competition is intended for adults and young people aged 15 and over. There are three categories in the competition: Finnish, Swedish and English. Each participant may enter one or more categories, submitting one (1) poem or series of poems for each category.

The form of the poems or series of poems is unrestricted. Entries can be submitted online, by post or by handing in the poem and the entrant’s contact information at any of the libraries in Helsinki where entries are being collected.

The participants must submit their own names, but to facilitate the anonymous processing and assessment of the poems, pseudonyms are also used. Entries to the competition will be judged anonymously.

The competition’s preliminary panel consists of Helsinki City Library staff with knowledge of poetry. The final winners will be chosen by actress Alma Pöysti and performance poet, translator and cultural activist Kasper Salonen. The authors of the best poems in each category will be rewarded with gift vouchers to the Rosebud bookstore. The winners will be notified personally.

The winners of the love poetry competition will be announced on Saturday 5 December at 18.00 at the Oodi book fest, where the poems will be recited to the audience. The winning poems will be published on the Oodi website. The best entries in the competition will also be displayed on the library’s other channels. The copyright to the poems remains with the author.

For further information on the poetry competition, please contact Pedagogic Information Specialist Piita Kiviaho piita.kiviaho@hel.fi(Link opens default mail program).

Submitting a competition entry online

• Submit your poem via the online form. A link to the form will be published on these pages on 14 September 2026.
• Please ensure that the file size of the poem is no more than 20 MB. The permitted file formats are pdf, doc(x), txt, rtf, log, jpg, png, mp4 and mov.
• Name the poetry file as follows: your_pseudonym_LOVE POETRY COMPETITION (e.g. amor92_LOVE POETRY COMPETITION).
• Do not write or attach your contact details, your real name or any other personal information to the poem file; include only the competition poem itself and your pseudonym.
• Enter your contact information in the relevant fields on the form: Your first and last name, town of residence, pseudonym, telephone number and email address.
• Attach the poetry file to the form.
• Send the form. You will receive confirmation of a successful delivery to the email address you provided.

Submitting a competition entry at a library

• You will need: a poem, two envelopes and a sheet of paper for your contact information.
• Attach your pseudonym to the poem, e.g. at the top of the page. Do not include any other personal information, such as your name or email address, in the poem.
• Put the poem in an envelope. Also write your pseudonym on the envelope.
• Write your contact information on a separate sheet of paper: Your first and last name, place of residence, pseudonym, telephone number and email address, along with the word LOVE POETRY COMPETITION.
• Place the poetry envelope and the contact information sheet into another envelope, which must not exceed A4 size. Also write LOVE POETRY COMPETITION on this envelope.
• Return the envelope to one of the following libraries during their opening hours: Oodi, Pasila, Itäkeskus, Töölö, Kallio or Malmi. Hand in your poem to a member of staff at the library’s customer service desk or place it in the box provided for entries to the love poetry competition.

Submitting a competition entry by post

• You will need: a poem, two envelopes and a sheet of paper for your contact information.
• Attach your pseudonym to the poem, e.g. at the top of the page. Do not include any other personal information, such as your name or email address, in the poem.
• Put the poem in an envelope. Also write your pseudonym on the envelope.
• Write your contact information on a separate sheet of paper: Your first and last name, place of residence, pseudonym, telephone number and email address, along with the word LOVE POETRY COMPETITION.
• Place the poetry envelope and the contact information sheet into another envelope, which must not exceed A4 size. Also write LOVE POETRY COMPETITION on this envelope.
• Send the letter with the appropriate postage stamp to the following address:

LOVE POETRY COMPETITION
Kallio Library
PO Box 53455
00099 City of Helsinki

• Poems sent by post must arrive at Kallio Library on Sunday 18 October 2026 at the latest.

Processing of personal data

The purpose of processing personal data is to organise a poetry competition and the related communications within the Culture and Leisure Division, particularly the Helsinki City Library. The legal basis of the personal data processing is Article 6, paragraph 1 a, of the EU General Data Protection Regulation: The data subject has consented to the processing of their personal data for one or more specific purposes. Personal data may, in some cases, be disclosed to specifically listed partners, such as the judges of the poetry competition. Personal data is not transferred outside the EU or EEA.

For further information on the processing of personal data, please refer to the City of Helsinki’s division-specific privacy policy: The City division’s event, campaign, prize draw and competition participant register (PDF)