October, 2026
Event Details
The National Poetry Competition is organised by The Poetry Society, which has run the prize annually since 1978. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious single-poem competitions, it
Event Details
The National Poetry Competition is organised by The Poetry Society, which has run the prize annually since 1978. Widely regarded as one of the world’s most prestigious single-poem competitions, it welcomes original, unpublished poems in English on any subject from poets at every stage of their careers. Entries are judged anonymously by a panel of distinguished poets, with the 2026 judges being Niall Campbell, Malika Booker, and Luke Kennard.
Each poem must have a title and be no longer than 40 lines (excluding the title, blank lines, and dedications). Poems must be the entrant’s own original work, must not have been previously published or made publicly available in any form before the winners are announced. There is no limit to the number of poems an entrant may submit.
Top prize: £5,000. Second prize: £3,000. Third prize: £2,000. Seven commended poets receive £500 each. The top three winning poems are also published in The Poetry Review.
Is this event legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any opportunity, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work. Check the organizer’s website and carefully read the terms and conditions!
Subscribe to Writing Deadlines
Never miss a deadline again. The Writing Deadlines newsletter delivers curated, verified writing competitions, prizes, and open calls straight to your inbox — subscribe here.
Could your writing use a second pair of eyes?
ProWritingAid combines deep grammar and style checks with genre-specific reports on pacing, repetition, and readability, helping you self-edit like a pro before you submit your work. Get started here — it’s free to try!
