Founded by Ted Hughes, former Poet Laureate, in 1967, Poetry International was initially conceived as a response to the global polarisation of east and west during the Cold War.
Writing in his introduction to the brochure that year, Hughes said: ‘The idea of global unity is not new, but the absolute necessity of it has only just arrived, like a sudden radical alteration of the sun.’
The festival has continued to this day, usually biennially, with its 53rd and most recent edition taking place in 2023, allowing it to become a joint celebration, marking also the 70th birthday of our National Poetry Library.
Poetry International features a multitude of events including presentations, panel discussions, readings, workshops and participatory programming, as well as occasionally incorporating a number of wider poetry ceremonies.
