The 2026 Forward Prizes for Poetry Ceremony: Live Stream
Join us online for some of the best poetry coming out of the UK and Ireland, and see the winners of the 2026 Forward Prizes for Poetry announced live on stage.
The Forward Prizes are an unmissable fixture in the literature calendar – a celebration for all who want to discover the best contemporary poetry.
Twenty poets are invited to take the mic and perform their work, delivering the perfect mixtape of poetry. This one-night event showcases the breadth and richness of poets publishing and performing in the UK and Ireland today.
The shortlisted line-up is curated by a judging panel chaired by award-winning writer Sarah Moss, alongside critically acclaimed poets Romalyn Ante, WN Herbert, Michael Mullen and Yomi Ṣode.
The Forward Prizes recognise achievement in four categories:
- Best Collection (£10,000)
- The Jerwood Prize for Best First Collection (£5,000)
- Best Single Poem – Written (£1,000)
- Best Single Poem – Performed (£1,000)
This year’s judges read more than 214 poetry collections and watched or read 340 single poems to find the most exciting poetry published this year in the British Isles.
Need to know
The live stream is available to view online for one month after the event.
This event is also available to watch live.
Times & tickets
Dates, times and prices
Dates & times
24 Oct 2026, 7pm
Run time
2 hours and 30 minutes (approx)
All timings are approximate and subject to change
Standard entry
Free – no ticket required
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