Scotland's International Poetry Prize, open to all. The 2023 Wigtown Poetry Prize is now open for entries and winners will be announced at the Prize Giving event at Wigtown Book Festival on 30 September.
 
Founded in 2005, the Wigtown Poetry Prize is one of the UK's best established writing competitions and a launchpad for many writers' careers.
 
Refreshed and rebranded in 2019, Wigtown Poetry Prize welcomes entries from poets wherever they may live. Separate categories celebrate the best of Scottish Gaelic and Scots language poetry, a special category acknowledges a rising talent in Dumfries & Galloway, and a pamphlet prize is named in memory of Alastair Reid - local poet and one of Scotland's foremost literary figures.
 
The competition closes on 31 May 2023, with a prize-giving at Wigtown Book Festival in the autumn. We hope to see you there.
 
Learn about this year's judges and what they are looking for in the winning entries here.
 
 
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
The Gaelic Books Council
Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre
Saltire Society
Scottish Poetry Library
StAnza, Scotland's International Poetry Festival
 
 
Wigtown Prize: £1500
Runner-up: £200
 
Wigtown Scots Prize: £500
Runner-up: £200
Supported by Saltire Society
 
Wigtown Scottish Gaelic Prize: £500
Runner-up: £200
Supported by The Gaelic Books Council
 
Dumfries & Galloway Fresh Voice Award
Professional support including mentoring by Wigtown Festival Company and a retreat at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre
 
Alastair Reid Pamphlet Prize
30 copies of a pamphlet of your work set by Gerry Cambridge
 
Invitation to Read at StAnza 2023
A winner of one or more categories will be selected at the discretion of StAnza, Scotland's International Poetry Festival and Wigtown Festival Company

 

 

Those entering Wigtown Scottish Gaelic and Wigtown Scots categories can also submit their poems to be considered for the Wigtown Prize free-of-charge.

 

 

 

Congratulations to all of our 2022 Prize Winners.  The winning entries can be found here.