Established in 1978, the Poetry Society’s National Poetry Competition is one of the world’s biggest and most prestigious poetry contests. Winners include both established and emerging poets, and for many the prize has proved an important career milestone.

The National Poetry Competition is currently accepting entries. Before entering please be sure to read the rules.

The closing date is 31 October 2013 (midnight, UK time). If you would rather enter by post, print a postal entry form [PDF]


Our online system will guide you through the process of submitting your poems, step by step, though if you would rather enter by post, you may print a postal entry form.

The first poem you submit costs £6.00. Subsequent entries in the same submission cost £3.50 per poem.

If you join the Poetry Society (or if you are already a member) you get a free second entry with subsequent poems at £3.50. You can join the Poetry Society as part of the entry process.

Prizes

First Prize: £5000
Second Prize: £2000
Third Prize: £1000
Seven Commendations: £100

The top-three winning poems will be published in Poetry Review. The winner is also invited to read at the Ledbury Poetry Festival in July 2014. Up to 150 entrants will also be offered a discount on selected activities from the Poetry School. Winning and commended poems will be published on the Poetry Society website when the competition prizes are announced in spring 2014.

The judges of the 2013 National Poetry Competition are: Julia Copus, Matthew Sweeney and Jane Yeh. The National Poetry Competition is an award for individual poems that are previously unpublished. Each entry remains anonymous throughout the judging process.

(http://www.poetrysociety.org.uk/)


Good luck to all!