Open Poetry Competition
Here’s a chance for poets worldwide to show off their talents and enter our Open Poetry 2026 competition.
There’s a top prize of £1,000, with prizes of £500 and £250 for second and third-placed winners.
There is also £100 for the best entry in the category for a local poet.
Competitions open on 1 April and close on 30 June.
Open Poetry Judge 2026
Clare Shaw
Clare Shaw (they/them) has four poetry collections with Bloodaxe. Their fourth collection Towards a General Theory of Love (2022) is an exploration of love and its absence: it won a Northern Writer’s Award, and was a Poetry Society Book of the Year.
Their next collection, I Know What I Saw, will be published with Bloodaxe in 2027.
Drawing on their background in mental health and their passion for nature and place, Clare’s writing often engages with the intersections of ecology, resilience and social justice.
Competitions open 1 April 2026
Competitions open 1 April and close on 30 June 2026.
Prize Giving and Poetry Reading will take place on Monday 19 October starting at 2pm as part of the Festival.
Please read the rules and terms and conditions before submitting your entry.