Young Poets’ Record High

A record number of 170 entries has been received in the Young Poets’ category of this year’s Festival competitions, beating 2021’s  previous high of 106 entries during the second Covid lockdown. Entries for 2026 closed on Friday 31 July.

This increase in numbers follows an extended deadline of an extra month for Young Poets, aged between 16 and 22, to allow for the busy period of school and college exams.

The deadline for the other three categories passed on 30 June, with Open Poetry attracting 656 entries, Short Stories 350, and Book for Children 111. The grand total of entries for all four stands at 1,287.

Winners and runners-up will be announced at a special prize-giving and poetry-reading celebration during the Festival on Monday 19 October from 2.00–5.00pm. Prize money totalling £5,000 will be shared among the four categories, with special prizes for local winners.

The event is open to festivalgoers, and will feature the four judges – one for each of the categories – along with some of the short-listed entrants. The annual competitions attract poems and stories from around the world, so not all entrants are able to attend the ceremony in person.