Aurel Pantea (Romanian pronunciation: [a.uˈrel ˈpante̯a]; born 10 March 1952) is a Romanian poet and literary critic.

Born in Chețani, Mureș County into a family of peasants,[1] Pantea attended the Faculty of Letters of the Babeș-Bolyai University in Cluj, graduating in 1976.

[1] During the university years he collaborated with the magazine Equinox.

[2] After graduation, he taught at Borșa and Alba Iulia.

[2] He is a member of the Writers' Union of Romania.