The Grand Finale: International Welsh Poetry Competition Launches 20th Contest
The International Welsh Poetry Competition, the largest English-language poetry award of its kind in Wales, is set to launch its momentous 20th and final annual contest this month.
- Great judge – Mick Evans
- Cash prizes and anthology publication
- Last chance to be part of history
After two decades of fostering literary talent across the globe, the organisers have announced this will be the last opportunity for poets worldwide to enter the prestigious competition.
Acclaimed Welsh writer and former competition winner, Mick Evans, will judge this historic final competition. Evans is the author of several collections, is a former winner and has previously judged the contest, ensuring the final selection maintains the high standards the competition is known for.
He said, “It is always a privilege to read the poems in this fabulous contest. The range and depth of feeling is awe-inspiring. Poetry is unique amongst the various art forms and always finds fresh ways to re-examine and share experience. Reading poems of such skill and variety always gives me great pleasure, and a tremendous amount of respect for writers who have crafted such great work.”
Organiser Dave Lewis added, “With a two-decade legacy of literary excellence since its launch on St. David’s Day in 2007, the competition has grown from a local initiative into a truly international platform.”
He continued, “The contest has received entries from over forty countries, including many faraway locations. From Argentina to Abu Dhabi, from Peru to Portugal, from Scotland to Swaziland, we have always attracted and showcased a broad selection of literary talent.”
Prizes and Publication
The competition offers cash prizes (including a £500 First Prize), and previous winners and runners-up have been published in three successful anthologies. A fourth and final anthology will be published in the autumn.
“After two decades of celebrating incredible poetry, it’s bittersweet to announce the twentieth contest will be our last,” said founder Dave Lewis. “We’ve seen the standard of entries go up every single year, proving that there is an abundance of innovative and high-quality verse being written around the world. We’re thrilled to have Mick Evans, a poet who embodies the quality and spirit of the competition, as our final judge. This is the last chance for poets to become part of our history.”
The final competition officially opens in February 2026. Poets are urged to submit their best work for the chance to be the final winner of one of the UK’s most respected literary awards and secure their place in the competition’s rich annals.
A Champion for New Voices
Founded on the principle of honesty and integrity, the competition is celebrated for its commitment to anonymous judging, providing a level playing field where those new to poetry compete directly with established poets. This approach has championed countless new voices in poetry.
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International Welsh Poetry Competition 2026
1st Prize – £500, 2nd Prize – £250, 3rd Prize – £100, plus 17 runners up published on our website and in a future anthology.
Judge – Mick Evans
Starts – 1st Feb 2026
Closing date – 28th June 2026
Poems in English, 50 lines maximum
Entry fee – £6 PayPal
Entry forms, rules and details on our website:
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About the International Welsh Poetry Competition
Founded in 2007 by writer and poet Dave Lewis, the International Welsh Poetry Competition has grown to become the largest poetry contest in Wales. The competition is funded purely by the organisers and entrants, with a mission to find, promote, and reward high-quality, innovative poetry from writers both established and new, from Wales and around the world.