Both established and emerging poets are invited to apply for participation in the jubilee 10th season of Mili Dueli – an international online poetry competition. Participation includes active interaction among poets via the Facebook social network throughout 2025/26.

Mili Dueli is a cultural project that has brought together hundreds of poets from different countries over the years (since 2012), aiming to increase the visibility of their poetry and encourage international literary cooperation — especially among poets from the Balkans, diaspora communities, and around the world.

 APPLICATION CONDITIONS

Authors from anywhere in the world may apply, with no age restriction.

The only requirement is that you are the author of the poems you submit.

Participation is completely free of charge!

Participants from previous seasons may apply again, except for previous winners, who are no longer eligible to compete.

Authors under the age of 18 will be redirected to a special category: Mili Dueli Junior.

 HOW TO APPLY

To apply, click the following link: [HERE]

Fill out the form with your basic personal information and upload the poems you wish to submit.

 AWARDS MAIN AWARD

• Plaque + Title “Mili Dueli 2025/26 Laureate” – awarded for 1st place
  (The award will be presented in person, at an agreed promotion event.)

ADDITIONAL AWARDS

• Plaques for the top 10 finalists
• Plaques for the best-ranked author from each participating country
• Balić Recognition – plaque for the best-ranked poet from the Balkan diaspora

SPECIAL RECOGNITIONS

(Plaques awarded for special contributions):

• Al Buqain Recognition – best-ranked poet from the Middle East
• Aga Recognition – for the best audio-visual poetry performance in the finals
• Roula Pollard Recognition – for outstanding poets from Greece and North Macedonia who contributed to intercultural dialogue
• Media Recognition – for the individual who contributed most to promoting international literary cooperation through media during the season

HONORARY RECOGNITIONS

All selected participants will receive:

• An electronic certificate for international cooperation, contribution to the promotion of poetry through social networks, and support for literary criticism.
• For those included in the printed anthology and present at the official promotion — a printed certificate may also be awarded.

(Authors with whom no further cooperation is established will not receive certificates.)

Mili Dueli will continue publishing anthologies of contemporary poetry by its participants. More information on the next anthology will be announced after the season concludes.

 APPLICATION DEADLINE

February 28, 2026

The organizer will begin the selection of applications in October 2025, and the selected participants for the second round will be contacted via Facebook message if they pass the initial classification. The list of selected participants for the second round of the poetry competition will be published on March 1, 2026, on the official website of the competition.

All contest updates and detailed information will be published [HERE].

 WHAT IS MILI DUELI?

Mili Dueli is an international literary project that promotes culture, art, and tolerance through internet-based poetry. The project’s main activity is an online poetry contest for authors from the Balkans, diaspora, and the wider world.

The project was founded and inspired by the idea of Nermin Delić, a Bosnian-Herzegovinian writer and doctor of medicine.

The competition is held entirely online, consisting of five elimination rounds. In each round, poets submit a new poem, which is reviewed by an international jury composed of renowned Balkan artists and previous winners of Mili Dueli. The jury provides detailed literary feedback, suggestions, and evaluations — making this contest truly unique in the region.

In addition to the jury, readers, followers, and the authors’ supporters also participate in the decision-making process.

The jury evaluates only the poems submitted for the competition, without considering the rest of the author’s body of work — therefore, it’s important to submit your best work.

 RECOGNITION AND MEDIA SUCCESS

In 2018, Forbes, the world’s leading business magazine, featured Mili Dueli, calling it the most popular poetry contest in the former Yugoslavia.

That same year, for his essay on the project, organizer Nermin Delić received the GOI/UNESCO Peace Award in Japan. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, he was awarded the title Genius of the Year (on the Bosnian man of the year event) for his idea and voluntary work on the project. In 2022, he also received the Cultural Contribution Award from the Municipality of Jajce.

In 2013, Delić spent a month in the United States as part of the Youth Leadership Program sponsored by the U.S. Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 PAST WINNERS OF MILI DUELI

The previous winners of Mili Dueli are:
Dijana Stevanović Uherek (Serbia), Enea Hotić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Anđela Turukalo (Montenegro), Ante Jezerčić (Croatia), Lela Zjajo (Germany), Stefan Lazarević (Serbia), Iryna Fingerova (Ukraine), Nikola Ismail (Serbia), Sanja Balalić (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Bozhana Slavkova (Bulgaria).

 STATISTICS & IMPACT

• Over 3,000 applications submitted in the past nine seasons
• More than 350 authors awarded with literary recognition
• Over 4,500 volunteer hours invested by the organizer
• More than 900 hours of jury work in evaluating poetry
• Website has surpassed 1.5 million visits — a remarkable achievement in an era when poetry is often overlooked

 CALL FOR COLLABORATION

Cultural associations, organizations, schools, and literary festivals across the Balkans that wish to collaborate with us — through literary visits, promotions, or workshops — are warmly invited to contact us.

 WE LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR POEMS!

Nermin Delić
Organizer of the Mili Dueli

Objava MILI DUELI 2025/26 – Free International Online Poetry Competition pojavila se prvi puta na Mili Dueli.

10. međunarodno online takmičenje poezije

Pozivaju se afirmisani i neafirmisani autori poezije da se prijave za učešće u jubilarnoj, desetoj sezoni Milih Duela – međunarodnog online takmičenja poezije. Učešće podrazumijeva interakciju pjesnika putem društvene mreže Facebook tokom 2025. godine.

Mili Dueli su takmičarskog karaktera i već godinama okupljaju stotine autora iz različitih zemalja, sa ciljem da pruže veću čitanost svojoj poeziji i potaknu međunarodnu književnu saradnju, posebno među pjesnicima sa prostora Balkana, dijaspore i svijeta.

USLOVI PRIJAVE

• Prijaviti se mogu autori iz bilo kojeg dijela svijeta, bez starosnog ograničenja.

• Jedini uslov je da ste autor pjesama koje šaljete na konkurs.

• Učešće je potpuno besplatno!

Učesnici prethodnih sezona mogu se ponovo prijaviti, osim ranijih pobjednika koji više ne mogu učestvovati u takmičenju.

Autori mlađi od 18 godina se prijavljuju na isti način, ali će biti razvrstani u posebnu sekciju: Mili Dueli Junior.

NAČIN PRIJAVE

Za prijavu kliknite na sljedeći link: [OVDJE]

Popunite obrazac sa osnovnim podacima o sebi i pošaljite pjesme koje želite prijaviti.

NAGRADE

GLAVNA NAGRADA

• Plaketa + titula Laureat Mili Dueli 2025 – za osvojeno 1. mjesto
  (Nagrada se dodjeljuje lično, na dogovorenoj promociji.)

OSTALE NAGRADE

• Plakete za deset najbolje plasiranih autora u finalu takmičenja

• Plaketa za najbolje plasiranog autora iz svake države učesnice

• Balićevo priznanje – plaketa za najbolje plasiranog autora iz dijaspore

SPECIJALNA PRIZNANJA

(Plakete koje se dodjeljuju za posebne doprinose):

• Priznanje Al Buqain – za najbolje plasiranog autora s prostora Bliskog Istoka

• Priznanje Aga – za najuspješniji audiovizualni performans autora

• Priznanje Roula Pollard – za istaknute autore iz Grčke i Sjeverne Makedonije koji su doprinijeli interkulturalnom dijalogu

• Medijsko priznanje – za osobu koja je tokom sezone najviše doprinijela promociji međunarodne književne saradnje putem medija

REVIJALNA PRIZNANJA

Svi autori koji budu odabrani za učešće dobijaju:

• Elektronsko priznanje za međunarodnu saradnju, doprinos plasiranju pisane riječi putem društvenih mreža i promociju književne kritike.

• U slučaju učešća u zborniku i dolaska na promociju – moguće je dobiti i štampano priznanje.
  (Priznanja se ne dodjeljuju autorima s kojima se ne ostvari daljnja saradnja.)

Mili Dueli će pored zajedničkog zbornika poezije zainteresovanih učesnika krenuti i sa objavljivanjem antologija savremene poezije učesnika takmičenja (na sezonskom nivou). Detalji o novoj antologiji i zborniku bit će objavljeni po završetku svake sezone.

ROK ZA PRIJAVU

28. februar 2026. godine

Organizator će u oktobru 2025. godine otpočeti selekciju prijava, a odabrani učesnici za učešće u drugom krugu će biti kontaktirani putem Facebook poruke ukoliko prođu početnu klasifikaciju. Lista odabranih učesnika za učešće u drugom krugu pjesničkog takmičenja će biti objavljena 1. marta 2026. godine na zvaničnoj web stranici takmičenja.

Sve dodatne informacije o konkursu dostupne su [OVDJE].

ŠTA SU MILI DUELI?

Mili Dueli su međunarodni književni projekt koji promoviše kulturu, umjetnost i toleranciju putem internetske poezije. Glavna aktivnost projekta je online takmičenje pjesnika sa Balkana, dijaspore i svijeta.

Osnivač i idejni tvorac projekta je Nermin Delić, bosanskohercegovački književnik i doktor medicine.

Takmičenje se odvija u potpunosti online, kroz pet eliminacionih krugova. Svaki krug podrazumijeva slanje nove pjesme koju ocjenjuje međunarodni žiri sastavljen od istaknutih umjetnika sa prostora Balkana i prethodnih pobjednika Milih Duela. Žiri daje detaljne komentare, smjernice i ocjene – što takmičenje čini jedinstvenim na regionalnoj sceni.

Pored žirija, u odlučivanju učestvuju i publika, stalni čitaoci i prijatelji autora.

Žiri vrednuje isključivo pjesme koje su poslane na konkurs, bez uvida u ranije stvaralaštvo autora – zato je važno prijaviti svoje najbolje radove.

PREPOZNATLJIVOST I MEDIJSKI USPJESI

O Milim Duelima je 2018. godine pisao i svjetski poznati magazin Forbes, nazivajući ih najpopularnijim takmičenjem poezije na prostoru bivše Jugoslavije.

Iste godine, za esej o djelovanju kroz projekt, organizator Nermin Delić dobio je GOI/UNESCO-vu nagradu za mir u Japanu. U Bosni i Hercegovini je, zbog ideje i volonterskog rada, odlikovan titulom Genije godine (na izboru Muškarca godine BiH 2018). Godine 2022. dobitnik je i Nagrade Općine Jajce, najvećeg lokalnog priznanja za doprinos kulturi.

Organizator je 2013. godine boravio mjesec dana u SAD-u u okviru Programa liderstva mladih, pod pokroviteljstvom Ambasade SAD u BiH.

POBJEDNICI DOSADAŠNJIH SEZONA

Dosadašnji pobjednici Milih Duela su:
Dijana Stevanović Uherek (Srbija), Enea Hotić (BiH), Anđela Turukalo (Crna Gora), Ante Jezerčić (Hrvatska), Lela Zjajo (Njemačka), Stefan Lazarević (Srbija), Iryna Fingerova (Ukrajina), Nikola Ismail (Srbija), Sanja Balalić (BiH), Božana Slavkova (Bugarska).

STATISTIKA I UTICAJ

• Preko 3000 prijava pristiglo je kroz prethodnih devet sezona.

• Više od 350 autora nagrađeno je književnim priznanjima.

• Organizator je uložio preko 4500 sati volonterskog rada, a žiri više od 900 sati ocjenjivanja poezije.

• Web-stranica Milih Duela zabilježila je više od 1,5 miliona posjeta – impresivan rezultat u vremenu kada poezija teško dolazi do čitatelja.

POZIV NA SARADNJU

Kulturna udruženja, organizacije, škole i festivali sa prostora Balkana koji žele ostvariti saradnju s nama kroz književne posjete, promocije ili radionice, pozvani su da nas kontaktiraju.

ČEKAMO VAŠE PJESME!

Nermin Delić
Organizator projekta Mili Dueli

Objava Mili Dueli – 10. međunarodni konkurs poezije pojavila se prvi puta na Mili Dueli.

	Name and surname:	Ольга Левадная
	Poem for the 4th and 5th round (Final / Grand Final): (TRANSLATION INTO MONTENEGRIN + RUSSIAN/ ENGLISH LANGUAGE )	НАЗВАНИЕ СТИХОТВОРЕНИЯ (черногорский) IZ KRIKA PTICA RASTU USPOMENE текст стихотворения Volim bjeloliki Kazan, čije noge umivaju blagotvorne vode; snijegom poljubljeni Kremlj, još mirišljav jesenjim lišćem; i prostranstva trgova, slična strasnom rastanku; i kuće sa pjegicama ispod grive srebrnih topola, i pobožno svjetlo uličnih svjetiljki; i ljude što dostojanstveno nose prošlost, i krik ptica, iz kojeg rastu naša sjećanja. Перевела на черногорский язык Анжела Турукало-Дабетич ………………………………. НАЗВАНИЕ СТИХОТВОРЕНИЯ (на английском или русском языке) MEMORIES GROW OUT OF THE CRIES OF BIRDS текст стихотворения I love white-faced Kazan, whose feet are washed by life-giving waters, a Kremlin kissed by snow still fragrant with autumn foliage and the proliferation of the squares like passionate farewells, and the freckled houses under the manes of silver poplars, and the devout luminescence of city streetlamps, and people grandly carrying their past and the cries of birds from which grow – our memories.
	Something special about you!	*Поэзия мой образ жизни. Я создатель и художественный руководитель поэтического театра «Диалог». Пишу либретто по книге поэтической прозы «Турецкие сказки» для одноименного балета. Создатель и руководитель фестиваля «Рукопожатие республик», целью которого является сохранение дружбы между народами Поволжья, России и мира. Работаю над проектом создания в социальных сетях Международного фестиваля русской культуры.
	What do you think is the main problem of peace in your country? Suggest solutions to us, and how to bring and preserve peace in your country with poetry?	*Я родилась на Украине. Отец украинец, мать русская из Сибири. Люблю и отца, и мать – это моя Семья. Прекратить конфликты между двумя братскими народами может только Любовь, Покаяние и Прощение. Необходимо объединить усилия поэтов России, Украины и всего мира по восстановлению генетической памяти своего рода, своей нации, чтобы передать следующему поколению страшную ПРАВДУ своих предков о второй мировой войне, а для россиян и украинцев, о Великой Отечественной войне.
	List of the published books:	1.«В ожидании снега живу», сборник стихов (1992), 2.«Пройти заколдованный круг», сборник стихов (1998), 3.«В свободном падении вверх», сборник стихов (на русском и татарском языках, 2003), 4.«Вблизи от нашего прошлого», сборник стихов (2003), 5.«Поднимаясь по лестнице раздумий», сборник стихов (2005), 6.«Из крика птиц растут воспоминания», сборник стихов (на русском, английском, татарском и турецком языках, 2005), 7.«Звёздные врата», сборник стихов и поэтической прозы (2010), 8.«Ветер сердца», сборник стихов (2014), 9.«Вокальные произведения на стихи Ольги Левадной», сборник нот (2020), 10. «Избранное» в двух томах, сборник стихов и прозы (2022), 11.«Ветер сердца», сборник стихов (на русском и татарском языках, Индия, 2022), 12.«Ветер сердца», сборник стихов (на татарском языке, США, 2022), 13.«Турецкие сказки», поэтическая проза (на русском и турецком языках, Турция, 2022), 14.«Поднимаясь по лестнице раздумий», сборник стихов (на русском и английском языках, Индия, США, 2023), 15. «Турецкие сказки», поэтическая проза (на русском и турецком языках, Индия, США, 2023), 16. «Избранное» в 2-х томах, сборник стихов и прозы (Индия, США-2023).
	Do you expect to win the contest?	YES

You can watch and vote the video posted on Mili Dueli’s official Facebook page:

FacebookVideo (click here to watch)

Mili Dueli 2023 – Fifth Round (Grand final)

Objava Olga Levadnaya – Iz krika ptica rastu uspomene (Mili Dueli 2023 – Grand Final) pojavila se prvi puta na Mili Dueli.

	Name and surname:	Irina Shulgina
	Poem for the 4th and 5th round (Final / Grand Final): (TRANSLATION INTO MONTENEGRIN + RUSSIAN/ ENGLISH LANGUAGE )	PTICU MOJ MALI Ti letiš, ptiću moj mali, daleko preko plavog mora, preko planina. Nosi, moj ptiću, dobre vijesti, spasi mi od nevolje prijatelja. Ti pjevaš, moj ptiću, pjesmu zvonu, probudi nasilni vjetar iz sna. Rasprši prašinu po otvorenom polju – tugu i melanholiju, neka ti se druga strana pokloni. Vrati se, moj ptiću mali, reci što si vidio, gdje si bio? Ko ti je pomogao na putu, štitio te u tami, od okrutnih, od očiju zla? Gdje si sreo mog dragog prijatelja? Je li živ i zdrav, reci mi šta kaže? Jesi li vidio crnokrilu lopužu, jesi li je otjerao sa dragocjenog puta? Ti leti, ptiću moj mali, u beskrajne udaljenosti, u šume. Reci mom prijatelju: žena ga čeka. Neka mali ptići idu u nebo. Translated to Montenegrin by Anđela Turukalo Dabetić …………………………………………….. MU LITTLE BIRD You fly, my little bird, Far beyond the blue sea, beyond the mountains. Take it, my bird, good news, Save my friend from trouble. You sing, my bird, a song to the bell, Wake up the violent wind from sleep. Disperse the dust in the open field – sadness melancholy, Let the other side bow down. Come back, my little bird, Tell me what you saw, where you were? Who helped on the road, protected in the dark, From the cruel, eyes from evil? Where did you meet my dear friend? Is he alive and well, tell me what he said? Have you seen the black-winged thief, Did you drive her away from the cherished road? You fly, my little bird, For the endless distances, for the forests. Tell my friend: “His wife is waiting for him Let the little birds go to heaven.”
	Something special about you!	Irina Shulgina is a composer, poet, singer, vocal teacher. Honored Worker of Culture. Soloist of the state ensemble. The head of the family ensemble “Sisters”. Honorary Worker of literature and Art of the International Academy of LIK (Germany). Academician of the Petrovsky Academy of Sciences and Arts. Winner of the Order “For Merits in Literature and Art” and the public medal “For Works in Education, culture, Art and Literature”. Grand Prix of the International Competition in France. Winner of the National Prize for Good in Art “For the Good of the World”. Finalist of the International Literary Peace Prize and Laureate of the Charles Aznavour Literary and Musical International Prize. Nominee of the Antoine de Saint– Exupery and V. Nabokov Prize. More than 300 songs in different genres, hymns have been written. The author of the projects: the musical “Night Cafe” and the folk musical Siberian tale “Faith, Hope, Love”.
	What do you think is the main problem of peace in your country? Suggest solutions to us, and how to bring and preserve peace in your country with poetry?	How important is it to understand why this happens: wars, pandemic, misunderstanding…? What are we doing wrong…? As an author and a creative person, I constantly try to listen to my heart and most often this results in creative bursts… And here is my poetic answer to the rhetorical question “WHAT TO DO?” “To the ground, do you hear, to the ground Bow down to the gray plain. Ask him to forgive you Mother is the earth, then your Shrine! And by uniting, the poets of the world with the power of words will be able to save this world
	List of the published books:	The soul sings, collection of poems (2012) A drop of dew, the second collection of songs in folk style (2016) I embroider days, author’s sheet music collection of romances (2017) Voice from Heaven, collection of poems (2020)
	Do you expect to win the contest?	YES

You can watch and vote the video posted on Mili Dueli’s official Facebook page:

FacebookVideo (click here to watch)

Mili Dueli 2023 – Fifth Round (Grand final)

Objava Irina Shulgina – Ptiću moj mali (Mili Dueli 2023 – Grand Final) pojavila se prvi puta na Mili Dueli.