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

 

 

 

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.