Ledbury Poetry Festival 2020 Poetry Competition carries a great first prize of £1,000 cash and a residential course at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre. Competition winners (from all categories) also have the opportunity to read their poems at the internationally renowned Ledbury Poetry Festival 2021. 

The competition is open to all entries of original, previously unpublished work across categories for Adults, Young People (12-­17 years) and also Children (11 and under). 

The Ledbury Poetry Festival Poetry Competition has been an important first step in many poets’ careers. Jacob Polley, winner of the 2016 TS Eliot Award, started his career with a win at Ledbury in 2001. “Winning the Ledbury Poetry Competition in 2001 pushed me forward, towards more poems, my first book and beyond”, Jacob says.