Old Spanish Days Fiesta 2026 Poetry Contest

New for Fiesta 2026

Unleash your inner bard and celebrate the spirit of Santa Barbara! The Old Spanish Days Fiesta Poetry Contest is officially calling all wordsmiths to capture the magic, history, and vibrant culture of our beloved tradition. Whether you’re a budding young storyteller, a creative teen, or a seasoned adult poet, this is your stage to shine—the contest is open to all ages!

Theme: Poems must be inspired by how Old Spanish Days celebrates Santa Barbara’s heritage and traditions of delicious food, colorful music, thrilling dance, and moving song, all imbued with a spirit of friendliness, hospitality, and tolerance.

fiesta-poetry-contest

With three distinct categories and serious stakes, you could walk away with more than just bragging rights; we’re awarding cash prizes of $100, $200, and $300 to the most captivating entries. Don’t let your inspiration fade—pick up your pen (or keyboard), honor the "Viva la Fiesta" spirit, and let your verses become a part of Santa Barbara history!

The judging panel will include current Santa Barbara Poet Laureate George Yatchisin and former Santa Barbara Poets Laureate Perie Longo, David Starkey, and Melinda Palacio. The group will be joined by Fr. Larry Gosselin, poet and long-time former head cleric at Santa Barbara’s Old Mission.

  • Applications now available.
  • The contest deadline is May 15th at midnight.
  • The winners will be announced in June.

For more information, call Leslie Lund at 805-680-9044 or email poetry@fiestasb.org.

Fiesta Poetry Contest

Before filling out the form, Click here to download a list of rules and regulations
Name(Required)
Parent or Guardian's Name (If entrant is under 18)
Address(Required)
This is to contact you about notifications and questions.
Age Category(Required)
First Poem Title(Required)
Second Poem Title (Optional)
Third Poem Title (Optional)
Consent and Verification(Required)
You must agree to the items above for your poem(s) to be considered.
Drop files here or
Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 10 MB, Max. files: 3.
    Please upload your poems here in Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF format. You can upload three files.
    Signature(Required)
    Please type your full name to serve as your signature. This means you understand and accept the terms of the Old Spanish Days Fiesta Poetry Contest.
    Today's Date(Required)