Since 2016 poets from far and wide have submitted their best, unpublished poems into Winchester Poetry Prize competition to be in with a chance of winning the prestigious top prizes and publication in a printed anthology. The first prize is £1000, second prize is £500 and third prize is £250.
Winchester Poetry Prize receives around 2000 original poems each year from emerging and experienced writers from all backgrounds – all hoping their poems will chime with the competition judge.
The judge this year is the triple TS Eliot Prize shortlisted poet Fiona Benson, pictured, who will read every eligible poem entered, to choose the three they deem the most impactful, as the winners for 2025.
Fiona Benson says: “I am so excited to read the poems entered for the Winchester Poetry Competition. Poems are such idiosyncratic doorways into the human soul and I cannot wait to read what you have found there – what strange interests and fascinations and stories. I am prepared to follow your poem wherever it goes, and hope to be changed by them in some way, and enchanted.”
Poems can be on any subject, and in any form or style, but must be written in English, and no more than 40 lines.
The Kathryn Bevis Prize is awarded to the best poem entered into the competition by a poet based in Hampshire. It aims to celebrate Kathryn Bevis’ legacy as a significant poetic voice from Hampshire, whilst providing a prize that will nurture and support the winner. The Kathryn Bevis Prize winner will be chosen by competition judge Fiona Benson and will receive a year’s worth of tuition from The Writing School alongside a cash prize of £150.
Ewan Monaghan of The Writing School comments: “The Writing School are delighted to once again be able to support this magnificent prize for Hampshire writers, and to continue to support the development of new and emerging talents from the county. Our founder, Kathryn, was an amazing champion of other people’s poetry careers and we are always pleased to continue that legacy.”
Winchester Poetry Prize 2024 received entries from 38 countries outside of the UK, including Zambia, Iran, Romania, Pakistan, Finland and New Zealand. The introduction of the new Kathryn Bevis Prize saw an increase in local poets submitting their work – with 16.2% of the total poems received being from those based in Hampshire.
The Winchester Poetry Prize 2025 winners will be announced live at a prize-giving ceremony as part of Winchester Poetry Festival at The ARC, Winchester on Sunday 12th October. All longlisted poets will read their poems at this exciting event. A printed anthology featuring the longlist and winners will be available to purchase on the day.
Further details, including guidelines and how to enter can be found on Winchester Poetry Festival’s website: winchesterpoetryfestival.org/prize
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