POETRY PRIZE 2026

From Wordsworth’s 19th century daffodils to contemporary writers such as Jacob Polley, Cumbria and the Lake District have long-served as inspiration to poets young and old.

Now Verey Books is back for a second year with its Poetry Prize open to anyone who feels inspired to write about this magnificent county, its countryside, its communities, its clasp on your soul.

Owner and poet, Al Verey will judge entries, drawing on 40 years of his own experience of the medium. Like last year, the theme will simply be ‘My Cumbria’ to leave as much open to writers’ interpretation as possible. Entries in any form of verse are acceptable.

Primary School Students (8 years+) | Secondary School Students

  • Winner: £50 Book voucher plus £150 Verey Books credit for their school library
  • Runner up: £25 Book voucher
  • Schools must be located in Cumbria

Adults:

  • Winner: £200 cash prize
  • Runner up: £100 cash prize

Deadlines: 

  • Thursday 5 March 2026: Entries open
  • Thursday 30 April, 5pm: Entries close
  • Thursday 14 May: Winners will be notified

Submit your entry

Entries for the Verey Books Poetry Prize open on Thursday 5 March. Winners will be notified  on Thursday 14 May – Good Luck!

  1. The adult category competition is open to anyone 18+ living in the United Kingdom.
  2. The schools categories are open to schools located within Cumbria.
  3. The closing date of the competition is 5pm (GMT UK time), 30 April 2026.
  4. Entries are limited to two poems per entrant. All entries will be considered anonymously by the judges.
  5. Entries must be submitted via the online form here
  6. Entries will not be returned, so please keep a copy.
  7. Under no circumstances can alterations be made to poems once entered.
  8. Online entries made via the website will receive automatic confirmation at the time of submission.
  9. Telephone or email confirmation of receipt is not available. We are unable to confirm the content of documents submitted online, so please ensure you send the correct version.
  10. The competition organisers reserve the right to change the judging panel without notice and not to award prizes if, in the judges’ opinion, such an action is justified.
  11. The judges read all the entries; their decision is final. Neither the judges nor Verey Books staff will enter into any correspondence.
  12. No current employee Verey Books is eligible to enter the Poetry Competition.

Rules: Poems

  1. All entries are judged anonymously and the poet’s name must not appear on the poem itself.
  2. All poems must have a title and must not exceed 40 lines in length (excluding title). Entries must be on the subject of ‘My Cumbria’.
  3. Poems must be written in English.
  4. Poems must be the entrant’s original work. AI-generated work is prohibited.
  5. Entries must not have been published, self-published, published on a website or made public on social media, broadcast or featured among the winners in another competition before 30 April 2026.

Rules: Winners

  1. Prizewinners will be notified by the 14 May 2026. All winners will be expected to provide a biography and photograph.
  2. The copyright of each poem remains with the author. However, authors of the winning poems, by entering the competition, grant Verey Books the right in perpetuity to publish and/or broadcast their poem.