Seeking, cultivating, and amplifying a wide range of artistic expressions that interrogate the world and expand the imagination.

Current Issue | 65.3: SUmmer 2026

Our Summer 2026 issue includes the 2026 Hopwood Lecture by Roxane Gay, and new work from Chang Joon An, Mary Buchinger, Sébastien Luc Butler, Carlina Duan, Raza Ali Hasan, Ariel Katz, Mehr-Afarin Kohan, Anji Shin, Asha Thanki, and many more.

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Meet Our Contributors

Summer 2026

Gentle waves crash in a pastel sea under a soft, cloudy sky with hints of pink at the horizon, creating a peaceful and serene scene.

Pratibimba, or the Reflection in the Mirror

A rugged mountain ridge with sharp peaks stretches into the distance, bathed in soft light and surrounded by mist, with layers of mountains and empty summits visible in the background.

Empty Summits

A small lemon tree with numerous ripe yellow lemons growing on its branches, surrounded by green foliage and soil, evokes the vibrant citrus groves of Beit Lahia.

In Your Video from Beit Lahia

A person walking indoors holds a plastic bag—specifically, a blue plastic shopping bag—in their right hand. Only their lower body and legs are visible.

The Plastic Bag

Dyed

New at MQR Online

Recent web exclusives from the Michigan Quarterly Review.

Book cover with an abstract illustration of a person in a blue jacket, hat, and sunglasses. The text on the silhouette reads: I Can Tell You the Version That Will Make You Take My Side. A striking blue and orange background enhances the transition on the page, drawing attention to the book’s intriguing title.

Transition on the Page: A Review of I Can Tell You the Version That Will Make You Take My Side

October 2, 2026

Ghost Pepper

September 25, 2026

A semi-transparent map of Armenia overlays a scenic mountainous landscape with the word AZAD in bold letters on the lower left. Evoking the artistry of Shadow Theater, the image blends geography and nature in warm tones, highlighting the enduring spirit of humanity.

Shadow Theater as a “portal in which we understand our humanity”

September 18, 2026

A woman in a blue sleeveless shirt sits beside the cover of a book titled Fallow by Sarah Anderson, featuring a close-up of a cow indoors—perhaps just after an interview with Sarah Anderson herself.

An Interview with Sarah Anderson

September 15, 2026

The book Small Talk by Acie Clark is centered on crumpled brown paper. Its cover features silhouettes of people in a circle with colorful text and the words Winner of the New Southern Voices Poetry Prize. In this poetic interview with everyday experiences, Acie Clark invites readers to say Yes to Life through vivid language and striking imagery.

Yes to Life: An Interview with Acie Clark

September 11, 2026

Why We Chose It: “Tater 2”

August 27, 2026

Why We Chose It: “American Wasteland”

August 27, 2026

Book cover for Ada by Mark Haber, featuring black illustrations of various figures and animals on a bright pink background, with the author’s and title’s names in white boxes—a striking design that captures the intrigue often noted in every thoughtful book review.

Alone Together: A Review of Mark Haber’s Ada

July 31, 2026

Book cover for When Mikan Road Was Ours by D.K. Furutani, featuring white text over artwork of leafy branches with oranges and flowers on an orange background—a design inspired by themes discussed in a recent interview with D.K. Furutani.

Portrait of a Japanese-American family during WWII: An interview with D.K. Furutani

July 28, 2026

Book cover of Famous Men: A Novel by Julie Buntin on the left, featuring a partial illustration of a woman's face; photo of a woman with long brown hair in a striped shirt on the right—an image that quietly explores themes of power and perception.

Power, Perception, and Famous Men: An Interview with Julie Buntin

July 24, 2026

Spring 2026

Print and online work from our spring issue with a special folio on soccer.

Meet Our Contributors | Issue 64:3 | Summer 2026

Ornate interior view looking up at a painted, domed ceiling with windows, detailed frescoes, and sculptures. Sunlight filters through the windows, illuminating the artwork and architecture.

The Death

Soft golden light beams fan out against a dark background, creating an abstract, ethereal glow with smooth gradients and gentle curves.

Wild Light

A raccoon peeks out from a hole in a large tree trunk, surrounded by bare branches against a cloudy sky.

Nocturnist

Abstract illustration of overlapping human profiles within a brain shape, featuring clouds, abstract shapes, and faces in a muted grayscale palette, symbolizing thoughts, emotions, and mental processes.

Bad Person

Fans dressed in yellow and green cheer enthusiastically, waving their hands in the air. One person in front wears a Brazil flag wristband and hat, showing excitement at a sporting event.

Home Games

A cheering crowd with raised hands at a brightly lit stadium during a nighttime event, with the field and stands visible in the background.

Sabalero

Inherited Geographies

Soccer player in green, white, and red uniform kicks a ball mid-stride during a match, with other players blurred in the background. Yellow and white border highlights the Michigan Quarterly Review Volume 65, 2026 cover.

Meet Our Contributors | Issue 645:2 | SPRING 2026

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About MQR

Michigan Quarterly Review, founded in 1962, is an interdisciplinary and international literary journal, combining distinctive voices in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, as well as works in translation. The flagship literary journal of the University of Michigan, our magazine embraces creative urgency and cultural relevance, aiming to challenge conventions and address long-overdue conversations. As we continue to promote an expansive and inclusive vision, we seek work from established and emerging writers with diverse aesthetics and experiences.

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