The inaugural George Klacsanzky Memorial Haiku Contest was held in May 2026, the project of Nicholas Klacsanzky, poet and founding editor of the online Haiku Commentary feature, in honor of his father, George Klacsanzky (1956–2003), a pioneering haiku poet, editor, and publisher. The contest is free and open to all poets and there is no prescribed topic or format. Awards include First, Second, and Third Places and several Honorable Mentions.
All information in this Haikupedia article is taken from the Haiku Commentary website.
General Information
Submissions: Up to three haiku should be sent to the contest page on the Haiku Commentary website.
Theme and format: None specified.
Requirements: Haiku must not have been published elsewhere, but work posted on social media is permissible. Haiku created by AI will not be accepted.
Submission window: Typically from May 1 to May 31.
Entry fee: None. The contest is open to all.
Adjudication: Judge announced before contest begins.
Prizes: First Place $75, Second Place $50, Third Place, $25, plus several Honorable Mentions.
George Klacsanzky Memorial Haiku Contest 2026
| Judge | Michael Dylan Welch | |
| Number of entries | 1,393 from 491 poets | |
| Results reported / archived | Haiku Commentary website | |
| First Place | Denisa Hanšutová, Slovakia | abandoned cemetery the dust in me whispers a prayer |
| Second Place | Lucas Weissenborn, Norway | nettle flowers— the paramedics stop defibrillating |
| Third Place | Alvin B. Cruz, Philippines | piecing together a torn photograph— winter stars |
| Honorable Mention (7) in no particular order | Ravi Kiran, India | moonlight the stillness of a wrecking ball |
| Meera Rehm, U. K. | glacial erratic— a refugee traces his lifeline | |
| Punyasloka Mohapatra, India | summer midnight— the traffic light changes for no one | |
| Herb Tate, U.K. | summer fair the merry-go-round of glances | |
| Annette Akkerman, Netherlands | returning soldier— the kids ask their dad for souvenirs | |
| Christine L. Villa, U.S.A. | starless sky opening and shutting the same cupboard | |
| Rich Schilling, U.S.A. | stargazing the baby’s cry brings me back to earth |
Sources / Further Reading
- Haiku Commentary website: https://haikucommentary.com/.