Foyle Young Poets of the Year Winners Announced
The Poetry Society honored 100 budding writers from across 153 countries at a ceremony held at the British Library.
Updated on Oct. 14, 2026 in Youth
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The Poetry Society has announced the winners of the 2026 Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award. Judges selected 15 top winners and 85 commended poets from over 11,000 international entries.
Why it matters
This competition aims to celebrate the creative talent of emerging young poets aged 11 to 17. By providing publishing opportunities and residential courses, the award encourages lifelong engagement with poetry.
The competition attracted 11,798 entries from poets aged 11 to 17. All 100 selected winners receive youth membership to The Poetry Society, while the top 15 receive a residential writing course.
The players
The Poetry Society
This organization promotes the study and appreciation of poetry through various awards, publications, and education programs.
John McAuliffe
He is a poet and educator who served as one of the judges for the 2026 competition.
Rachel Long
She is a poet and founder of the Octavia Poetry Collective who served as a judge for the award.
British Library
This is the national library of the United Kingdom and served as the venue for the awards ceremony.
The details
Judges John McAuliffe and Rachel Long evaluated the submissions to select the final group of honorees. The top 15 poems are featured in the printed anthology titled We Write our Names on the Walls, which was released alongside the ceremony.
Timeline
The 2026 Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award winners were announced on October 14, 2026.
The commended poems are scheduled to appear in an online anthology in the spring of 2027.
Culture Shift
The Foyle Young Poets award highlights a growing global trend of international creative writing participation among youth. By reaching 153 countries, the program underscores a shifting landscape where digital connectivity enables teenagers to engage with literary communities worldwide.
Aspiring writers aged 11 to 17 can utilize the resources and anthologies published by the program to improve their own poetic techniques. The announcement serves as a guide for young people to seek out future creative writing opportunities and membership programs.
The takeaway
Young poets should keep an eye on upcoming submission windows to gain professional recognition for their work. Engaging with established anthologies is a practical way for students to study contemporary poetic styles and build their writing portfolios.
What happens next
The 85 commended poems will be released in an online anthology in the spring of 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in creative writing initiatives by visiting the Youth section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Poetry Society.
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