Brief
KFF Health News launches Halloween haiku contest for healthcare-themed verses
The annual contest asks participants to craft 5‑7‑5 poems on medical bills, insurance or hospital experiences, with winners announced Oct. 30.
By Felo News Desk · Published
KFF Health News announced its 2026 Halloween haiku contest, inviting submissions that turn healthcare anxieties into three‑line poems.
What happened
Entries must follow the 5‑7‑5 syllable structure, reference a healthcare topic and be submitted by 11:59 p.m. ET on Monday, Oct. 19. The top three poems will receive custom comic illustrations, and the grand‑prize haiku will be featured in the outlet’s Morning Briefing on Friday, Oct. 30, with a social‑media shout‑out.
What the reports add
The announcement, written by Oona Zenda for KFF Health News, specifies that AI‑generated verses are disqualified and that submissions may be lightly edited for style before publication.
What was said
"We want to read about it," the outlet wrote, encouraging verses about "medical bills, insurance, hospitals, health policy, or whatever else keeps you up at night."
How it came about
KFF Health News has run the Halloween haiku contest annually, using it to engage readers on health‑policy issues through creative expression.
Key facts
- KFF Health News is running a Halloween haiku contest with a deadline of Oct. 19, 2026. (khn.org)
- The contest requires a 5‑7‑5 haiku about a healthcare topic and bans AI‑generated content. (khn.org)
- Prizes include custom comic illustrations and a feature in the Morning Briefing on Oct. 30. (khn.org)
Sources
- [1] khn.org — originally reported as “Healthcare Is Scary. Channel Your Fears Into a Haiku. - KFF Health News”
