The competition, sponsored by Winning Writers alongside partners Duotrope and Chill Subs, continues to highlight the intersection of satire and contemporary life. Second prize of $500 was awarded to Annah Chiedza Hodhera of Harare, Zimbabwe, for her Keatsian parody "Ode on a Grecian Takeout Container," which critiques the trivialization of classical aesthetics on disposable goods. Cal Hunter from Belfast, Northern Ireland, took the $250 third prize for "Ink?," a sharp commentary on the precarious nature of ownership in the age of digital licensing.

Final judge Jendi Reiter noted that this year’s submissions reflected a collective anxiety regarding digital visibility, observing that poets seem increasingly fixated on the act of watching and being watched online. Beyond the top three placements, eleven honorable mentions were awarded to poets including Emily Cho, Chad Frame, and Kazuto Tonari. Winning Writers has already opened submissions for the 2027 contest, which will feature an expanded prize pool of $5,100. All winning entries are currently available for review on the organization's website.