The Chrysalis BREW Project has officially announced the winners and finalists of the 2026 BREW Poetry Award. The announcement, made on October 2, 2026, celebrates the poets and poems that resonated most deeply with both the judging panel and the community.
Leading the honors, Bianca Black was named Poet of the Year and received the Judges’ Poem award for her work, “Youth.” In a separate distinction, Sushanth Shyamsundar earned the title of Poet of the Year and won the Community’s Poem award for his piece, “THE ALMOST-PERSON.”
The 2026 awards recognized excellence across multiple categories, including Open and Tertiary divisions. In addition to Black and Shyamsundar, Waverly Vernon was named among the winners of this year's competition. The awards also featured additional recognition from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
The BREW Poetry Award continues to highlight significant literary contributions, bringing attention to the diverse voices within the poetry community through its specialized categories and community-driven selections.