Foyles Young Poets of the Year Award 2026 opens for entries

The Foyles Young Poets of the Year Award is open for entries from those aged 11-17 years, with young people from the UK and around the world invited to write a poem of no more than 40 lines. The competition will close on 31 July and winners will be announced in the autumn.

The two judges for this year's Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award are Rachel Long and John McAuliffe, who will choose 100 winners including 15 top winners and 85 commended winners from this year's entries.

With entries from over 10,000 young people last year from across the UK and worldwide, it is the largest competition of its kind and has helped support many new and upcoming poets at the start of their careers. Previous winners include Sarah Howe, Jay Bernard, Helen Mort, Richard Osmond, Caroline Bird, Phoebe Stuckes and many more poets from across the world. Thanks to funding from the Foyle Foundation, the competition remains free to enter.

Competition prizes include membership of The Poetry Society, poetry goodies, and mentoring and talent development opportunities such as editorial opportunities and showcasing events. Last year's top 15 winning poems will be published in an anthology, Patterns in the Dust and a sister anthology of the commended poems in 2025 will be made freely available to read online.

Deadline for entries:    Midnight 31st July 2026 (BST)

Judges:    John McAuliffe and Rachel Long

Entry criteria:   The award is free to enter and is open to everyone aged 11-17 on 31st July 2026. Poems must be no longer than 40 lines. Poems written using generative-AI software are not allowed. Poems must be written in English, phrases in a mother tongue or another language can be included.

Find out more about entering the competition here.