- General Submission Requirements
Eligibility & Originality
All submissions must be original, unpublished work (not previously printed, posted, broadcast, or published elsewhere). This includes any pieces shared on social media platforms and online through other digital platforms.
AI-generated content is not permitted
Translations, co-authored pieces, or work by the competition organizers (or their close associates) are ineligible
Anonymity & Identification
Submissions must be anonymous. Author’s name, and any identifying details, should not appear on the work or the file name
One Submission per Category
Only one entry per person. Your work may apply to multiple categories.
Language
Work must be primarily in English
- Category-Specific Guidelines
- Written Word
- Form: Page poetry in any style, from traditional to avant-garde.
- Length Limits:
- Max 40 lines, excluding title
- Spoken & Performed
- Form: Spoken word, audio poetry (audio files only).
- Duration Limit:
- max 3 minutes
- Provide as .mp3, with brief performance context in a cover note.
- Visual & Multimedia
- Form: Hybrid text-image, moving-image poetry, video production.
- Duration / Size Constraints:
- max 3 minutes for video submissions, aligning with other multimedia platforms
- File size limit: 50mb.
- Experimental & Hybrid
- Form: Multi-platform works, performance-digital blends.
- Presentation Format:
- Please accompany submissions with a clear description of intent and required playback conditions e.g., interactive elements or digital platforms needed.
- Submission Format & Ancillary Materials
- Written Submissions: Single file (PDF, doc or docx), all content in one document.
- Video submissions: Single file (mp4, mov)
- Audio submissions: Single file (MP3)
- Image submissions: Single file (jpeg, jpg, png, gif)
- Author biography / Note:
- Include: category name, title(s), and a short bio (50–100 words)
- Do not include personal identifiers on the submitted work itself.
- Submission Portal: SmartSurvey, link can be found here: https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/LM00DG/
- Judging, Notifications & Rights
- Anonymous Judging: All entries will be judged anonymously
- Response Timeframe: Winners and runner ups will receive responses in May 2026
- Publication or Exhibition:
- Winners may be published or publicly showcased through English Heritage’s license to use the work
- Copyright – Each poet retains full copyright and moral rights (e.g. the right to be credited, and to object to derogatory treatment of their work).
- Notification Dates:
- Competition will launch on 3rd November at 10am, with applications closing on 15th March at 11:59pm
- Shortlisting will take place in March 2026
- Longlisting will take place in April 2026, with winners receiving communication in May 2026