Skip to main page content

2020 International Competitions: Now Open

The first day of April is a very familiar date! But as far as Wells Festival of Literature is concerned, that’s because it’s the day our competitions traditionally open. And this year, despite all the change and uncertainty around us, is no exception – we are delighted to declare our competitions officially open. Entries can start flooding in!

First prize in our Open Poetry Competition (to be judged by Jo Shapcott) is an astounding £1000. That puts Wells in the top ten most generous festival competitions in the country. Second and third prizes for Open Poetry have also risen: to £500 and £250 respectively.

Other Categories:

Prize money, 1st £150, 2nd £75, 3rd £50. All three young poet prize winners will also receive a year’s subscription to the Poetry Society.

Our 2020 International Competitions: Winners have been announced. You can watch a recording of our 2020 Poetry Reading and Prize Giving event.