Free Verse Prize
Closing date: Fri 6 Mar 2026
The Free Verse Prize is now open for entries.
Entrants to the Free Verse Prize are invited to submit up to eight poems on any theme. Poems should be a maximum of 40 lines, including title and blank lines/stanza breaks. Poems must be the entrant’s original work, and should be previously unpublished. Entries must be written in English.
The winning poet will receive a cash prize of £500, as well as publication in both Poetry News and the 2026 Free Verse programme, which is distributed to all attendees and publishers at the Fair.
Judge: Nina Mingya Powles
