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.

Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Europe

Date: February 20, 2020

PUBLIC CALL

We are inviting all affirmed and non-affirmed poets from whole the world to participate in the most popular online poetry contest in this part of Europe – called Mili Dueli (Sweet Duels). Participation is related with promoting poetry and multicultural dialogue between artists all across the planet, especially between Balkans nations. Authors are presented on official Facebook profile of Mili Dueli and there, they have opportunity to meet each other, exchange their knowledge and get prizes. During seven seasons we presented more than 1 500 authors from more than 45 countries across the world. If you are so far from Bosnia and Herzegovina, do not worry! We are very welcome to host you as an author and your country and meet your culture. Our jury is international and we are promoting diversity.

How to apply?

APPLICATION CONDITIONS

Milli Dueli (eng. Sweet Duels) are international in character, and authors from any part of the world can apply for the competition without age restriction. The only condition for application is that you are the author of the poetry you are submitting to the competition.
Note: Earlier Mili Dueli participants can apply again. The exception is the winners of the previous seven seasons who can no longer participate in the Contest.

APPLICATION METHOD

You can apply for the competition by clicking HERE.

There are detailed guidelines on what information you need about yourself and the poems you submit.
(If you have a trouble to apply in that link, you could try our second link for applies by clicking HERE.)

Participation in the competition is completely free!

AWARDS

Grand Prize: Plaque + Laureate “Mili Dueli” (“Poet of the Year by Mili Dueli 2020”) – for 1st place
* The award is presented next year, during the summer.

Other awards:
– A plaque for the top ten places won in the finals of the Contest
– Plaque for best placement of the Balkan state (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Macedonia, Bulgaria, Greece and Albania)
– Plaque for the best placement of the Balkans diaspora (Balich Award).

Special recognition:

– Al Buqain Award – for the person who, over the course of the season, was most prominent in promoting the international cooperation of writers through the media, in accordance with the mission of the Mili Dueli Project. The award includes a plaque.

– Aga Award – A special recognition in the final, awarded for the most viewed video clip of a poetry author, in honor of the tragically suffering finalist of Mili Dueli 2019, Nermin Aganovic. The award includes a plaque.

Revial recognition: 

Each author who is selected to participate in Milli Dueli receives electronic and / or print (depending on participation in the collection and coming to the promotion planned in the future) Prize for international cooperation, literary contribution of placing the written word through social networks, and encouraging development literary criticism in this region during 2020.
*Authors we do not collaborate with will not be recognized.

Note: An electronic poetry compilation of the author and literary criticism of the jury on their works will be published this season. Further details and a call will be released on the details of the great print collection of Mili Dueli participants from this and previous seasons.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: May 31, 2020

The organizer will, in June / June, select the most successful entries and attendees of “Mili Dueli 2020” who will be notified by message on their Facebook profile if they pass the initial classification.

You can follow all the competition details HERE.

ABOUT MILI DUELI

Mili Dueli is a project to promote culture, art and tolerance in the Balkans. Its main feature is the poetry contest of Balkan authors, diaspora authors and foreign poetry authors. The project was founded and inspired by the idea of Nermin Delic, a Bosnian writer.

The poetry contest you are planning to apply for is in online formation. Follow everything from the comfort of your home, through the social network Facebook and our official website! Contest is made up of five elimination rounds. The authors submit a new poem to each successive circle that they pass, which they review and evaluate through literary review with an international jury composed of renowned Balkan artists across the region, and of the earlier winners of Mili Dueli. In addition to the jury, the decision as to who goes into the next rounds is made by our regular readers who follow us, as well as the authors’ friends. The Contest is unique in that it gives the jury comprehensive commentary, guidance and reasoning for their votes; which is not the case in any other regional poetry competition. Therefore, this is a great opportunity for anyone who wants literary criticism on their poems. The project is a great opportunity for young, unconfirmed authors to come to the fore, but also for affirmed, older authors, to validate success. The jury only evaluates the poems that the author submits to the competition, without insight into the other works of the author, and it is therefore important that you submit your best poems.

In the previous year,  the most famous business magazine in the world – American Forbes, wrote about the Mili Dueli project which characterized it as the most popular poetry contrast in the former Yugoslavia. Also, in 2018, for the essay on acting through the project, the organizer Nermin Delić was awarded the UNESCO Peace Prize in Japan. The same year, in Bosnia and Herzegovina he was awarded the Genius of the Year award for his idea and volunteer work on the project at the Bosnia and Herzegovina – Men of the Year Award. More details can be found on Bosnian language HERE. In 2013, the organizer also spent a month in the US educating under the US Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina Youth Leadership Program.

From the seven previous seasons, these are the winners of Mili Dueli: Dijana Stevanovic Uherek (Serbia), Enea Hotic (BiH), Angela Turukalo (Montenegro), Ante Jezercic (Croatia), Lela Zjajo (Germany), Stefan Lazarevic (Serbia), Iryna Fingerova (Ukraine) and Nikola Ismail (Serbia).

Over the course of these seven seasons, over 2500 applications have been submitted for participation in the Mili Dueli, and we have awarded over 100 authors to our highest literary awards. The previous year, organizer spent over 700 hours of volunteer work on the project. Also, jury spent over 200 hours of volunteer work on the poetry evaluation. The website visitor count surpassed the figure of 500,000,000 over the last three months. It seems as a special success in the era of unpopular poetry reading!

There is no doubt that the Mili Dueli have become a real internet sensation for discovering new talented poets and for stimulating their creativity. This is a unique opportunity for new acquaintances of similar people who live near and far and who have the same hobby – writing.

Each year, the concept of the Contest is identical, but the rules from season to season and from round to round change, for the sake of interaction, interest, euphoria, and maximum objectivity, since everyone who works on the project volunteers for free. For culture, tolerance and poetry…

All cultural associations throughout the Balkans who would like to cooperate with us, in the form of literary visits, promotional organizations, are welcome to contact us.

We are waiting for you!

Mili Dueli

MILI DUELI 2020
Online Balkan Poetry Contest 

Made in Bosnia and Herzegovina
70202 Jajce

Objava MILI DUELI 2020 – International poetry competition (free entry)! pojavila se prvi puta na Mili Dueli.