Schools can now register to shadow CLiPPA 2026 poetry award

Record numbers of children are expected to take part in this year's CLiPPA poetry award. Schools can now sign up for the CLiPPA shadowing programme, which will get underway on 15 April with the live announcement of the shortlist and poetry performances by shortlisted poets.

CLiPPA is the UK's foremost award for published poetry for children. Recent winners include Joseph Coelho, Valerie Bloom, Michael Rosen, Colette Hiller and Matt Goodfellow. Each year, the shortlist is explored and celebrated by tens of thousands of primary school children who take part in the award via its hugely popular Shadowing Scheme.

Inspire a love of poetry

More than 40,000 children were involved in the 2025 shadowing process and more are expected to take part in this year's shadowing programme during the National Year of Reading. National Literacy Trust research carried out in 2025 found that one in four (24.2%) children and young people aged 8 to 18 read poetry in their free time at least once a month, with one in six (17.5%) choosing to write poetry in their free time. The NLT research also found poetry to be beneficial to emotional wellbeing, and a source of joy and fun.

The 2026 award ceremony will take place at the National Theatre on Thursday 9 July, with live performances from poets and primary school children.

Judging panel

The judges for this year's award include chair of the judges Nicola Davies, Children's Laureate Wales. She will be joined by 2025 CLiPPA winner Colette Hiller who won with Colossal Words for Kids, illustrated by Tor Freeman. Joining them are Jake Hope, reading development and children's book consultant, and Carnegie awards executive; Lisa Mead, CEO of Apples and Snakes; and Anjali Patel, lead advisory teacher, CLPE.

2025 winner and a judge this year, Colette Hiller, said, "The CLiPPA is unique in throwing a spotlight on children's poetry, putting it centre stage and allowing it to 'take a big bow'! This acknowledgment isn't just important to the poets involved. It shows how popular poetry is. The unique schools shadowing scheme enables the shortlisted books to resonate with teachers and students across the country." 

The 2026 CLiPPA Shadowing is open for registration now. Find out more on the CLPE website. @clpe1 #CLiPPA2026