New Writers Poetry Competition 2026

The New Writers Poetry Competition 2026 is run by NewWriters.org.uk, a Leeds-based writing platform. The competition is open to poets worldwide and offers a total prize pot of £1,400, with a top prize of £1,000 and four runners-up prizes of £100 each.

Entrants must submit original, previously unpublished poetry in English. Poems must not exceed 42 lines (excluding the title and any line spaces).The competition is judged anonymously, and the 2026 Head Judge is JLM Morton, a Gloucestershire-based poet whose debut collection was highly commended by the Forward Prizes.

The competition is international and open to writers anywhere in the world. A limited number of free entries (one per person) are available for low-income writers on a first-come, first-served basis, no later than 10 July 2026 (see the terms and conditions for details).

Winning and shortlisted poems will be published on the NewWriters.org.uk website and in the New Writers Anthology. Results will be announced no later than 23 September 2026. Ten per cent of competition proceeds are donated to charity, split between Duchenne UK and The Funzi & Bodo Trust.

Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.