International Competitions

Poetry, prose and Prizes

Spring into action if you want to enter the 2026 International Competitions hosted by Wells Festival of Literature, now an eagerly contested annual event.

We have the judges – you have the words. Just decide which of the quartet of competitions suits your style of writing and you could be one of the winners to walk away with both kudos and cash. Prizes totalling £5,000 will be awarded to the winning entries in the competition’s four sections: Open Poetry, Short Story, Book for Children, and Young Poets.

Entries are invited from 1 April 2026 until 30 June 2026 in the categories Open Poetry, Short Stories and Book for Children.
There is a longer entry period for Young Poets from 1 April 2026 until 31 July 2026.

All the judges, one for each category, are well-respected experts in their own field so entrants can be confident of the final judgements.

Winners will be announced at a celebratory event at 2pm on 19 October 2026 at Cedars Hall, the Festival venue in Wells. The achievements of all entrants will be publicly recognised at a poetry reading and a prize-giving ceremony where the winners will receive prizes totalling £5,000 between them. There are also special prizes for local winners.

Click on each of the four categories below for full details.