Best Canadian Poetry 2026

Selected by editor Mary Dalton, the 2026 edition ofBest Canadian Poetryshowcases the best Canadian poetry writing published in 2024.

Featuring:

John Wall Barger Ronna Bloom Nicholas Bradley Petra Chambers Carolina Corcoran Kayla Czaga Danielle Devereaux Irina Dumitrescu Puneet Dutt Darrell Epp Susan Glickman Ariel Gordon Jennifer Gossoo Sue Goyette Richard Greene Glenn Hayes Henry Heavyshield Dave Hickey Nancy Huggett Kevin Irie Emily Kedar Conor Kerr Evelyn Lau Sylvia Legris Steve McOrmond Estlin McPhee M.W. Miller Khashayar "Kess" Mohammadi George Moore Paul Moorehead A.F. Moritz Megan Morrison Ern Moure Cassandra Myers Shane Neilson Nofel David O'Meara John O'Neill Michael Ondaatje Craig Francis Power John Reibetanz Ozayr Saloojee Vivek Sharma Sue Sinclair Karen Solie Misha Solomon Susan White Erin Wilson Jaeyun Yoo Patricia Young

Praise for Best Canadian Poetry

“A magnet, I think, for the many people who would like to know contemporary poetry.”
—A.F. Moritz, Griffin Poetry Prize winner

“The wide range of writers, forms and themes represented here make it a great jumping-off point for readers who might be interested in Canadian poetry but are unsure about where to start.”
—Globe and Mail

“One of the best things about the end of the year is having a chance to look back. The three Best Canadian volumes . . . are a snapshot of some of the finest in Canadian writing this year.”
—Robert J. Wiersema, Toronto Star

“Buy it, or borrow it, but do read it.”
—Arc Poetry Magazine

“[These] books are must-haves for libraries, schools, and intellectually well-intentioned bedside nightstands across the country.”
—Quill & Quire

Mary Daltonis the author of six books of poetry, among themMerrybegot,Red Ledger,Hooking, andInterrobang, as well as a prose miscellany,Edge: Essays, Reviews, Interviews. The book version of her 2020 Pratt Lecture,The Vernacular Strain in Newfoundland Poetry, was released by Breakwater in 2022. She lives in St. John's, Newfoundland.

Anita Lahey's third poetry collection,While Supplies Last, was published by Vehicule Press in 2023. She's also co-author of the graphic-novel-in-verse,Fire Monster, a collaboration with artist Pauline Conley (Palimpsest, 2023). Her memoirThe Last Goldfish: a True Tale of Friendshipwas a finalist for the 2021 Ottawa Book Award. Anita first joinedBest Canadian Poetryas assistant series editor in 2014, and has served as series editor since 2018. She lives with her family in Ottawa.

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