The Griffin Poetry Prize, established in 2000, is one of the world’s most generous prizes for a first edition poetry collection written in, or translated into, English. This year’s shortlisted poets, Aaron Coleman, Durs Grünbein, Brian Henry, Karen Leeder, Carl Phillips, and Diane Seuss, and the Canadian First Book Prize winner, Dawn Macdonald, will read at the Griffin Poetry Prize Readings on Wednesday, June 4 at 7.30 p.m. in Toronto’s Koerner Hall. An annual highlight for poetry lovers, the evening will also include a conversation with the 2025 Lifetime Recognition Award recipient, Margaret Atwood, and trustee Carolyn Forché, and feature a recitation by one of the 2025 Finalists of Poetry in Voice/Les voix de la poésie, a Canada-wide student recitation competition.

With C$130,000 awarded to the winner, and $10,00 to each poet, the Griffin Poetry Prize continues to elevate poetry from around the world. Join us at Koerner Hall for what will be an exceptional night of poetry.