As part of the Garden’s Atlanta Haiku Festival on April 18, writers from across the country are invited to submit up to two original and unpublished haiku to the competition during the month of February. Details for submissions are provided below.
Prizes
Three winners will be selected in each category: first, second, and third. Each winner and up to three guests will receive complimentary admission to the festival on April 18, including lunch with the competition judges. Winning haiku will be displayed in the Garden as well as on the Garden’s website and social media platforms.
Winners will also receive additional admissions:
Third place: two additional Garden admission tickets*
Second place: four additional Garden admission tickets
First place: six additional Garden admission tickets
*Garden admission tickets are valid only during regular, daytime hours. Tickets are not valid for special events, including Garden Lights, Holiday Nights. Travel expenses are not covered. Non-local winners may receive their prizes by mail.
People’s Choice Grand Prize: Gift Basket
Following the announcement of winners on April 1, winning haiku (three from each category) will be published online for public voting. Voting will close at noon on April 17, and the People’s Choice Grand Prize winner will be revealed during the festival at the Atlanta Botanical Garden on April 18.
Competition Details
Submissions will be accepted from February 1 – 28, 2026 and must be submitted using the designated form. The competition is free and open to anyone residing in the United States. Authors under the age of 18 must include parental consent. Judging will be conducted by experienced haiku authors and experts.
2026 Theme: Growing Gold
In recognition of the Atlanta Botanical Garden’s 50th “golden” anniversary, submissions should reflect the theme Growing Gold. The Garden has undergone significant transformation since its inception in 1976, evolving from two trailers surrounded by a few shade gardens into a 30-acre urban oasis. Participants are encouraged to explore what growth means to them, drawing inspiration from nature’s imagery and personal experiences.
To be eligible for the competition, submitted haiku must:
1. Be original works by the author
2. Be unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere
3. Be limited to two original haiku per applicant.
Submissions are open in three divisions:
1. Bonsai: Elementary and Middle School aged
2. Sakura: High School aged
3. Ginkgo: Adults
Standard form for modern English haiku is recommended:
Modern English haiku does not need to adhere to a strict 5-7-5 syllable structure. As the rhythms of English and Japanese differ, strict syllable limits may hinder the flow in English. Instead of focusing solely on syllable count, participants should aim to capture a single moment in time, evoke a specific season, or juxtapose two distinct images.
Further information about English haiku form can be found at The Heron’s Nest, the Haiku Society of America, and through the How to Haiku video.
For questions regarding submissions:
Email Heather Chiller, Public Programs Manager at the Atlanta Botanical Garden.
About the Judges
Tom Painting serves as a teacher at the Paideia School in Atlanta and has been an active member of the haiku community for over thirty years. He is a former associate editor for The Heron’s Nest haiku journal.
Abigail Friedman is a retired American diplomat and national security official, as well as an award-winning poet who writes haiku in English, French, and Japanese.
Diane Alleva Caceres is a lecturer at the Georgia Institute of Technology and an accomplished writer of haiku, haibun, and tanka. She is a cofounder of the Atlanta Haiku Festival.
