This week, the annual Jackson Poetry Prize was awarded to Chicago-born poet Marianne Boruch. The honor recognizes an outstanding American poet each year and includes a $100,000 cash award. The 2026 judging panel consisted of Major Jackson, Cole Swensen, and Afaa Michael Weaver.

According to the judges’ statement, Boruch’s poetry reveals the breadth and depth of human thought through its ornamental rhythm and captivating expression. In an era shaped by artificial intelligence, her work seeks to stir collective human understanding, exploring the vastness of desire and curiosity. Her poetic tone moves fluidly between refined diction and spontaneous wit, employing every stylistic nuance in between.

The judges noted that Boruch’s unconventional sentence structures are not merely surprising but awakening, inviting readers to look upward and think more deeply. The prize highlights her distinctive contribution to contemporary American poetry.