From May 1st to 31st, 2026, Haiku Commentary will host the George Klacsanzky Memorial Haiku Contest. The contest not only coincides with the 10th anniversary of Haiku Commentary but also is in honor of a pioneer of haiku in the Pacific Northwest. George Klacsanzky (1956–2003) was an early organizer of English-language haiku publishing and events in the Seattle area. In 1984, he started a haiku journal called Haiku Zasshi Zō (which may be translated as Haiku Magazine Image)—the second haiku journal in the Pacific Northwest. Besides editing this pivotal journal, he organized many haiku walks, conducted haiku meetings, shared haiku news, and sponsored haiku contests. His son, Nicholas Klacsanzky, is the founder of Haiku Commentary and a current haiku/senryu editor of Frogpond journal.

Submission Details

Judge: Michael Dylan Welch, who graciously agreed to preside over our inaugural event through anonymous judging.
Submission link: Submit to the George Klacsanzky Memorial Haiku Contest 2026 (open from May 1, 12:01am PDT to May 31, 11:59pm PDT).
Amount: Up to three haiku.
Prizes: $100 – First Place. $75 – Second Place. $50 – Third Place. $25 – Honorable Mentions (three).
Requirements: Haiku not published elsewhere. Haiku posted on social media is permissible to submit to the contest. Haiku written by AI will not be accepted.
Theme: Your best haiku, whether that be experimental, traditional, avant-garde, or your own take on the genre.

No fee to enter and open to all.

George Klacsanzky, alongside covers of Haiku Zasshi Zō