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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260514
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260716
DTSTAMP:20260514T161452
CREATED:20260512T134225Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260514T100219Z
UID:9858-1778716800-1784159999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:New Writers Poetry Competition 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23:59 (UK time) on Wednesday 15th July 2026\nEntry Fee: £10 per entry; (£18 for two entries\, £26 for three entries\, when submitted together)\nPrizes: 1st: £1\,000; 2nd to 5th: £100 each\nPublication: The five winning entries will be published on the NewWriters.org.uk website and in the next New Writers Anthology\nWord Limit: 42 lines (excluding title and line spaces)\nCharity: 10% of all proceeds will be donated to charity (split between Duchenne UK and the Funzi & Bodo Trust)\nCategory: Poetry Competitions\nCompetition Website: newwriters.org.uk/poetry-competition\n\nThe latest annual poetry competition run by NewWriters.org.uk\, the New Writers Poetry Competition 2026 is seeking fresh new poetry with no theme or style restrictions. It is open to poets from anywhere in the world.  \nWith a prize fund of £1\,400 and the winners getting published on the website and in the next New Writers Anthology\, this is a great competition for new and experienced poets to get their work out there. \nAlso\, 10% of the proceeds from this competition will be donated to charity\, split between two UK-registered charities: Duchenne UK (who seek treatments and a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) and The Funzi and Bodo Trust (who run educational and other developmental projects in Kenya). Your entry fee will contribute to these fantastic causes.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/new-writers-poetry-competition-2025/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
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ORGANIZER;CN="New Writers UK":MAILTO:competitions@newwriters.org.uk
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260515
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260516
DTSTAMP:20260514T161452
CREATED:20260416T132839Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260422T101724Z
UID:13983-1778803200-1778889599@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:F(r)iction Writing Contests - Spring 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23:59 (Denver Time) on 15th May 2026\nEntry Fee: $10 for Poetry or Flash\, $15 for Short Story or Creative Nonfiction\nPrizes: Short Story: $1\,000; Creative Nonfiction: $500; Poetry: $300; Flash: $300; winners and selected finalists are considered for publication in F(r)iction\nWord Limit: Short stories: 1\,001–7\,500 words; Poetry: up the three pages per poem; Creative Nonfiction: up to 6\,500 words; Flash fiction: up to 1\,000 words per piece\nJudges: Manuel Aragon (Short Stories)\, Trish Broome (Poetry)\, Shannon Chen See (Creative Nonfiction)\, Brett Pribble (Flash)\nCategories: Short Story | Poetry | Fiction | Creative Nonfiction\nCompetition Website:  frictionlit.org/contests/\n\nThe Spring 2026 F(r)iction Contests are open to entries of Short Story\, Poetry\, Creative Nonfiction\, and Flash Fiction. \nIn their writing contests\, they seek writing that reflects a similar mission to our journal\, F(r)iction: work that actively pushes the boundaries of traditional publishing\, that has complex characters and a strong narrative arc\, and makes the reader feel something. They are seeking stories they haven’t seen before\, whether it twists or plays with genre\, setting\, language\, voice\, you name it.  \nTheir contests also feature a panel of three guest judges to help decide the winners for each category. For Spring 2026\, they have Manuel Aragon judging Short Story\, Brett Pribble judging Flash Fiction\, Shannon Chen See judging Creative Nonfiction\, and Trish Broome judging Poetry.  \nWinners in each category will receive a cash prize\, as well as work with one of their Senior Editors to see their work published either online or in our print journal!
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/friction-writing-contests/
CATEGORIES:Flash Fiction Competitions,Non-fiction Competitions,Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260514T161452
CREATED:20250225T184352Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260226T095050Z
UID:9972-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Whispering Wisdom Poetry Prize
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 11.59 pm on Sunday 31st May 2026\nEntry Fee: £5 per poem (additional entries £4 each)\nPrizes: 1st: £250\, 2nd: £50\, 3rd: £50\nWord Limit: Up to 40 lines (excluding title and line breaks)\nJudges: Whispering Wisdom and Award-winning Poet and Screenwriter\, Peter Devonald and Whispering Wisdom Founder\, Chris Allen\nTheme: A theme of your choice\nCategory: Poetry Competitions\nCharity: 5% of profits will be shared between our two chosen charities for 2025/26 – Sarcoidosis UK and Narcolepsy UK.\nCompetition Website: whisperingwisdom.co.uk/competitions\n\nThe Whispering Wisdom Poetry Prize is open for entries and is seeking poems on the theme of your choice. The top prize is £250 and 5% of the profits from the competition will be split between two excellent charities. In addition to the top prize\, there are additional £50 prizes for second and third place. \nAll entries will be judged blindly\, based on creativity\, resonance\, and technical craft. Chris Allen\, founder of  Whispering Wisdom\, will be joined by award-winning poet and screenwriter Peter Devonald on the judging panel. Winners will be announced on Friday 14th August 2026. Check out the competition website for further information.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/whispering-wisdom-poetry-prize/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260514T161452
CREATED:20251007T102106Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20251020T093908Z
UID:11568-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Frogmore Poetry Prize 2026
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 on Sunday 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: £4 per poem\nPrizes: First prize: 250 guineas (£262.50) + 2-year subscription to The Frogmore Papers. Runners-up: 75\, 50 guineas + one-year subscriptions\nWord Limit: 40 lines\nTheme/Genre: Any\nCategory: Poetry Competitions\nCompetition Website: frogmorepress.co.uk/frogmore-poetry-prize\n\nThe Frogmore Poetry Prize was founded in 1987 and will be awarded for the 40th time in 2026. Previous winners include Sharon Black\, Tobias Hill\, Mario Petrucci and Emily Wills.  \nAll shortlisted poems will be published in the 108th edition of The Frogmore Papers in September 2026. The 40th Frogmore Prize will be adjudicated by poet and publisher Mike Barlow\, a previous winner of the National Poetry Competition\, who will read all entries. \nRead the full rules and entry details on the competition website.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/frogmore-poetry-prize/
LOCATION:VirtualLocation
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260514T161452
CREATED:20251020T095120Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T113021Z
UID:1172-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Bridport Prize 2026 - Poetry
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: £13 per entry\nPrizes: First prize: £5\,000; second prize: £1\,000; third prize: £500; highly commended: 10 x £100\nLine Limit: 42 lines (Not including title)\nCategory: Poetry Competitions\nCompetition Website: bridportprize.org.uk/the-competition/poetry\n\nCompetition Details\nThe Bridport Prize is one of the most prestigious (and lucrative) writing competitions around that is open to unpublished writers. The Bridport Prize for Poetry offers an amazing £5\,000 top prize\, but even making it onto the shortlist gives the poet an important addition to their CV. \nAt £13 per entry\, it’s not not bad value given the prize\, and if you are serious about your verse\, you might as well aim high. And if you win the Bridport Prize (in any category) it can garner a lot of attention and open plenty of doors. \nNote that the 42-line limit doesn’t include the title of the poem or lines between stanzas. Ensure you read the submission instructions carefully (for instance you need to add the line count to the entry and submit in 12pt\, black font). \nThe following additional prizes may also apply to entrants who fit certain criteria: \nYoung Writer Award £500 – For the highest placed writer aged 16 to 25 in poetry\, short story\, flash fiction and novel. \nNever Too Late Award – This £500 award is given to the highest placed writer aged 60+ in Poetry\, Short Story\, Novel and Flash Fiction. The winning piece will feature in our anthology\, which counts as being published and opens doors with literary agents and publishers. It also accesses other competitions not available to the public. \nDorset Award £100 – Given to the highest placed Dorset writer in poetry\, short story\, flash fiction and novel. Sponsored by The Bookshop\, Bridport.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/bridport-prize-poetry/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260514T161452
CREATED:20260401T082347Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260401T082617Z
UID:13774-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Hay Festival Room to Write
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 12pm (BST) on 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: FREE\nEligibility: UK-based published writers of fiction or non-fiction or poetry (at least one book) aged 18+\nPrizes: Eight writers will each win an Airbnb coupon worth £1\,500\nWord Limit: Entrants must provide a description of their work (max 500 words)\, a short writing sample (max 500 words)\, and a brief writer biography (max 200 words)\nPrompt: Write a story that includes change or transformation.\nCategory: Short Story\, Flash Fiction\, Poetry\, Novel\, Non-Fiction Competitions\nCompetition Website: https://www.hayfestival.com/room-to-write\n\nIn the UK’s National Year of Reading\, Airbnb will partner with arts charity Hay Festival to launch Room to Write – a new writing award.\nRooted in Hay Festival’s commitment to nurturing contemporary writing and Airbnb’s mission to enable meaningful travel and connection\, Room to Write champions creativity and the importance of place and space in storytelling.\nDeveloped with Hay Festival to support writers at a critical stage in their career\, the Room to Write award recognises that time\, space\, and a change of environment are essential to fuel creativity and often inaccessible due to financial or personal constraints.\nOpen to UK-based writers\, the award offers eight recipients an Airbnb coupon worth £1\,500\, enabling them to stay in a UK location of their choosing to support focused writing.\nApplications for the award are open now here\, closing Sunday 31 May. See the website for detailed full terms and conditions.\nAn accompanying digital content series\, recorded at the Festival’s flagship UK edition\, 21–31 May\, will feature established writers sharing their top writing tips and reflections on the role of place in storytelling\, to engage a wider audience in creative inspiration.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/hay-festival-room-to-write/
CATEGORIES:Flash Fiction Competitions,Non-fiction Competitions,Novel Competitions,Poetry Competitions,Short Story Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260514T161452
CREATED:20260402T120945Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T093608Z
UID:13791-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Stainsby Festival National Poetry Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: £6 each or £10 for two\nPrizes: The winner will be invited to a paid residency at the 2027 festival; Three winning poems will be published online; Shortlisted poets will be invited to read their work at this year’s festival\nLine Limit: 42 lines (Not including title)\nHead Judge: Roger McGough\nCategory: Poetry Competitions\nCompetition Website: stainsbyfestival.org/poetry/\n\nStainsby Festival has announced its inaugural National Poetry Competition to be held at this year’s event. The festival has featured spoken word with previous performances by\, Longfella (aka the Manchester poet Tony Walsh)\, the former Derbyshire Poet Laureate Mat Black\, the Bard of Windmill Hill\, the stand up poet Live Torc\, as well as numerous aspiring local poets. \nThe new competition will be judged by legendary poet\, Roger McGough. The voice of poetry on Radio 4’s Poetry Please for over 25 years\, he’s known for his work nationally and internationally\, as well as being a bit famous in Liverpool. \nShortlisted poets will be invited to read their work (or have it read) at this year’s festival in Roger’s presence. Three winning poems will be published online and (possibly) in this year’s festival programme. The overall winner will be invited to a paid residency at the 2027 festival\, which is a fantastic opportunity for any aspiring poet.  \nThe organisers are seeking accessible poems on any subject (no\, it doesn’t have to be about festivals or music or gatherings) – so really\, any subject you choose but to a maximum of 42 lines. Please see the competition website for the full details.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/stainsby-festival-national-poetry-competition/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
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END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260531
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTSTAMP:20260514T161452
CREATED:20260408T094256Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260408T094256Z
UID:13849-1780185600-1780271999@newwriters.org.uk
SUMMARY:Kirkstall Art Trail 2026 Poetry Competition
DESCRIPTION:Deadline: 23.59 (UK time) on 31 May 2026\nEntry Fee: £4 each \nPrizes: National: £30; Local (Leeds postcode) £20\nLine Limit: 40 lines (Not including title)\nHead Judge: Kirkstall poet\, Jim Corah\nCategory: Poetry Competitions\nCompetition Website: kirkstallarttrail.co.uk/kirkstall-art-trail-2026-poetry-competition\n\nFor 2026\, Kirkstall Art Trail are launching their inaugural poetry competition with\, the surprisingly and appropriately named\, Kirkstall Art Trail Poetry Competition 2026.  \nWith two prizes\, one national and one local\, the organisers’ ambition is to produce a collection featuring the ten best submissions. The collection will be available for sale during the Kirkstall Art Trail weekend (18 and 19 July) and on their website. On Saturday\, 18 July\, there will be a spoken word event. To celebrate both the Poetry Competition and the Poetry Trail\, the organisers invite entrants to come along and read their poems. \nNote the 40-line limit (excluding the title) and the £4 entry fee. Full details can be found on the competition website.
URL:https://newwriters.org.uk/competition/kirkstall-art-trail-poetry-competition/
CATEGORIES:Poetry Competitions
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