About the Awards
Each year (since 1980) the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters honors creative individuals with an award in their specific field. The Institute's juried competition is one of a kind in the state. Our carefully selected judges, chosen from out of state, are prominent in their field.
Annual Award Cycle
1) Nominations open September 15th
2) Nominations close January 15th
3) Review and judging period January 16th - March 15th
4) Final selections confirmed January 30th
5) Awardees announced March 31st
6) Awards Weekend events June 4-5th
Nominations
Who May Nominate
Nominations are accepted from any MIAL member in good standing. If you are not yet a member, you may join today to submit a nomination.
Eligible Work
Work must have been published, performed, or publicly exhibited during the preceding calendar year. Specific eligibility dates are updated annually.
How to Submit
Nominations must be submitted via the online form by the annual deadline. Physical copies or digital portfolios may be required for specific categories.
Who May Be Nominated
Nominees must be living artists, writers, or musicians who are current or former residents of Mississippi, or who have significant ongoing connections to the state.
Award Categories
Awards are presented in Fiction, Nonfiction, Life Writing, Poetry, Youth Literature, Music Composition (Classical & Contemporary), Photography, and Visual Arts.
Nominate
2026 NOMINATIONS DUE January 15, 2027
2026 AWARDS WEEKEND June 4-5, 2027
Please submit nominations below (for works published, shown, or performed in 2026).
