February, 2026
Event Details
The Keats-Shelley Poetry and Essay Prizes were established in 1998 to encourage writers of all ages to respond to the work of the Romantics. Prize Judges have included Carol Ann
Event Details
The Keats-Shelley Poetry and Essay Prizes were established in 1998 to encourage writers of all ages to respond to the work of the Romantics. Prize Judges have included Carol Ann Duffy, Stephen Fry, Liz Lochhead, Richard Holmes, Dame Penelope Lively, Tom Paulin, Claire Tomalin, Jack Mapanje, Simon Barnes, Fiona Sampson and Tom Holland.
The Keats-Shelley Poetry and Essay Prizes are open to all.
The theme of 2025-26’s Keats-Shelley Poetry Prize has been chosen to mark the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley’s The Last Man. Entrants are invited to submit poems on the subject of either “Dystopia” or “Utopia”.
Winners receive £1000. Two highly commended entrants in each category will receive £500.
Winning and highly commended poems and essays will be published in The Keats-Shelley Review and on the Keats-Shelley website
Entry to the Poetry Prize is £10. Entry to the Essay Prize is free.
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.
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