The world of poetry thrives on creativity, expression, and connection. For many poets, entering competitions is a vital way to gain recognition, challenge their craft, and connect with the broader literary community. When exploring poem contests 2024, one competition consistently stands out globally for its prestige and impact: the National Poetry Competition, run by The Poetry Society.
This annual competition is renowned for awarding significant prizes for a single unpublished poem and attracting tens of thousands of entries from poets around the world. Its results offer a snapshot of current trends and emerging voices in poetry. The results for the 2024 competition have recently been announced, celebrating a new cohort of talented poets. Just as finding the right amor poem can resonate deeply with a reader, discovering a winning poem in a competition like this can introduce powerful new voices and perspectives. If you were interested in poetry contests 2023, the 2024 results offer a fascinating follow-up.
National Poetry Competition 2024: The Winners
The 2024 competition drew numerous submissions, each poem vying for recognition from a distinguished panel of judges. The recently announced winners represent some of the most compelling voices entering the competition this year.
- 1st Prize: Fiona Larkin for ‘Absence has a grammar’
- 2nd Prize: Matt Barnard for ‘Two boys at midnight’
- 3rd Prize: Sorrel Briggs for ‘Heaven Down’
These winning poems, now part of the competition’s celebrated history, demonstrate a mastery of language, imagery, and emotional depth that captured the judges’ attention.
In addition to the top three, the judges also commended several other poets for their outstanding work: Andrew Dennison, Kit Buchan, Chris Beckett, Yong-Yu Huang, Lesley Sharpe, Lee Knapper, and Hannah Perrin King.
The competition also recognizes a longlist of poets whose work demonstrates significant merit. The 2024 longlist includes a diverse array of poets, highlighting the wide reach and impact of the National Poetry Competition. Congratulations to all poets on the 2024 longlist:
Vasiliki Albedo Liapi, Bruce Alexander, Sarah Al-Hajj, Jeremy Audet, Andy Austin-Davies, Tate Bailey, Tom Bailey, Edward Barker, Mike Barlow, Flora Beagley, Lily Blacksell, Laurie Bolger, Colin Bramwell, Emily Breeds, Jessica Brown, Georgia Cabrera-Gutierrez, Finola Cahill, James Canavan, Maya Caspari, Ellie Cauvain, Duncan Chambers, Heather Chapman, Audrey Colasanti, Lauren Colley, Jack Cooper, Sarah-Clare Conlon, Katharine Craik, Carol Dalton, Patrick Davidson Roberts, Olga Dermott-Bond, Kathryn Dorfman, Charlotte Dormandy, Nick Drake, Stephen Duncan, Christina Dunhill, Christopher Edwards, Jonathan Edwards, Mark Fiddes, Dean Gessie, Ross Gillett, george graves, Arabella Green, Dila T. Gunay, Paul Gurton, Joshua Hallam, Allis Hamilton, Chris Hardy, Jack Haworth, A.R. Darland, Beverly Hughes, Frost Hughes, Talia Jacobs, Chris Jones, Gregory Kearns, David Keplinger, Tim Kiely, Anna Kisby, Houley Koundourou, Carolene Kurien, Vanessa Lampert, Bianca Layog, Wes Lee, Róisín Leggett Bohan, Emery Lipow, Nasim Luczaj, Gill Macdonald, Johanna Magin, Greg Mahrer, Martin Malone, Barbara Marsh, Robert Maslen, Anne McCulloch, Jim McElroy, John McKay, Paul McMahon, Kristen Mears, Olga Mexina, Jon Miller, Katrina Moinet, Sadhbh Moriarty, Jon Naskrent, Patrick Nathan, Eleonora Natilii, Mia Nelson, Sara Pensalfini, Stephen Poch, Robert Powell, Estelle Price, Victoria Pugh, Amanda Quaid, Maurice Quirke, Zen Ren, George Roberts, Peter Ross, Graeme Ryan, Nicholas Samaras, Jacqueline Saphra, Lesley Sharpe, Julie Sheridan, Maxine Sinclair, William Skelton, Copland Smith, Elizabeth Speller, Sandra Tan, Molly Underwood, Brett Van Toen, Imogen Wade, Kate Wakeling, Dolores Walshe, Seán Watmore, Hana Widerman, Maria Woodford, Luke Wright.
Meet the Judges for the 2024 Competition
The task of sifting through thousands of entries falls to a panel of esteemed judges, poets and literary figures whose own work and expertise lend considerable weight to the competition’s results. The 2024 competition was judged by:
- Romalyn Ante: Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature, Filipino-British poet, essayist, and editor. Her debut collection was shortlisted for the Jhalak Prize and longlisted for the Dylan Thomas Prize. She is co-founding editor of harana poetry and sits on the editorial board for Poetry London. Her new collection AGIMAT is forthcoming in September 2024.
- John McAuliffe: Associate Publisher at Carcanet Press and Professor of Poetry at the University of Manchester. His publications include National Theatre (forthcoming Winter 2024), Selected Poems (2021), and The Kabul Olympics (2020).
- Stephen Sexton: Winner of the Forward Prize for Best First Collection in 2019 and the National Poetry Competition in 2016. He received the E.M. Forster Award and the Rooney Prize for Irish Literature in 2020. His book Cheryl’s Destinies was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best Collection in 2021. He teaches at the Seamus Heaney Centre, Queen’s University, Belfast.
The judges shared their perspectives on the experience:
John McAuliffe noted, ‘The National Poetry Competition tests the temperature of poetry every year and I’m looking forward to reading what people are writing now, and to finding suitably brilliant poems to add to this competition’s august backlist.’
Romalyn Ante expressed her honour, stating, ‘Poetry possesses a remarkable capacity to depict and enhance our fragile yet beautiful existence and experiences. I am excited to read the entries from around the world and engage with your brilliant writing and unforgettable voices.’
Stephen Sexton, speaking from personal experience as a former winner, remarked, ‘The National Poetry Competition transformed my writing life. It gave me encouragement and confidence in my work… I am, therefore, thrilled and honoured to share the responsibility of judging this year’s competition and to witness the richnesses and complexities, moods, manners and matters of our language in the contemporary poem.’
Their insights underscore the significance of the competition not just as a contest, but as a barometer for contemporary poetry and a catalyst for poets’ careers.
Looking Back: Previous Years’ Results
The National Poetry Competition has a rich history, and reviewing past years’ winners provides valuable context for understanding its impact on the poetry landscape. For those exploring poem contests 2024 and beyond, seeing who has won in the past can be inspiring.
National Poetry Competition 2023 Winners
Announced on March 25th, 2024, the 2023 competition was judged by Jane Draycott, Will Harris, and Clare Pollard.
- 1st Prize: Imogen Wade, ‘The Time I Was Mugged In New York City’
- 2nd Prize: Fawzia Muradali Kane, ‘Eric’
- 3rd Prize: Rency Jumaoas Raquid, ‘Like Her’
Commended poets included Anna Selby, A.V. Bridgwood, george graves, Harriet Jae, Katie O’Pray, Jack Nicholls, and Madeleine Wurzburger. The extensive longlist from 2023 also featured many familiar and emerging names.
Left to right: Judges Jane Draycott, Will Harris, and Clare Pollard who presided over the 2023 National Poetry Competition, pictured in headshots.Left to right: Jane Draycott, Will Harris, Clare Pollard.
National Poetry Competition 2022 Winners
Judged by Greta Stoddart, Jason Allen-Paisant, and Michael Symmons Roberts, the 2022 results were announced on March 29th, 2023. This year saw over 17,800 poems submitted from 8,112 poets across 103 countries, showcasing the competition’s international appeal, a key factor when considering poem contests 2024.
- 1st Prize: Lee Stockdale, ‘My Dead Father’s General Store in the Middle of a Desert’
- 2nd Prize: Tife Kusoro, ‘the only other dark-skinned girl’
- 3rd Prize: Freya Bantiff, ‘God the Whale’
Commended poets were Mike Barlow, Elena Croitoru, Caroline Druitt, Susannah Hart, Rosie Jackson, Jennifer Nadel, and Jeri Onitskansky.
National Poetry Competition 2021 Winners
The 2021 competition, judged by Fiona Benson, David Constantine, and Rachel Long, announced its winners on March 31st, 2022, selecting ten poems from 16,729 entries by 7,012 poets from 100 countries.
- 1st Prize: Eric Yip for ‘Fricatives’
- 2nd Prize: Jed Myers for ‘I Picture Him Driving’
- 3rd Prize: Emma Purshouse for ‘Catherine Eddowes’ tin box as a key witness’
Commended poets included Jo Haslam, Lindsey Holland, Martin Reed, J.C. Todd, Kizziah Burton, HLR, and M.R. Peacocke.
Reviewing these past results provides a fascinating glimpse into the poets and poems that have been celebrated by the National Poetry Competition over the years. For poets interested in entering contests like this in the future, studying these winning poems and the judges who selected them can offer valuable insights. Beyond the National Poetry Competition, the world of poetry contests is vast, including specific opportunities like haiku contests often run by organizations such as the haiku society of america.
The Value of Entering Poem Contests
Participating in poetry contests, whether it’s the National Poetry Competition or smaller, niche contests focusing on forms like haiku contests, offers numerous benefits. It provides deadlines that encourage writing, opportunities for external validation of one’s work, potential for publication and monetary prizes, and visibility within the poetry community. Even appearing on a longlist or receiving a commendation can significantly boost a poet’s confidence and profile. For readers, following competition results is an excellent way to discover new poets and exciting contemporary work.
Conclusion
As we navigate the landscape of poem contests 2024, the announcement of the National Poetry Competition results is a major event. It highlights exceptional talent, celebrates the enduring power of poetry, and provides inspiration for poets and readers alike. Congratulations once again to the winners, commended poets, and longlisted poets of the 2024 competition. Their achievements remind us of the vibrant and ever-evolving nature of contemporary poetry.