Victoria Kennefick shares what she's looking for as judge for our Poem of the Festival competition.
"I encourage the poets who enter the VERVE poetry competition to get weird and get real - to allow their idiosyncratic selves to find a space and a place on the page."
I am so honoured and excited to be the judge of this year’s VERVE poetry competition. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to read the work of poets writing right now. I appreciate that those who submit are trusting me with their precious words so I take this responsibility very seriously.
My judging process is an instinctual one in that I read each poem carefully and invite it to accompany me as I move through my day, drinking coffee, taking a walk or brushing my teeth. The poems that I remember, that surprise, shock, confront, move or soothe me are often those I shortlist - their energy lingers, reframing something for me in terms of theme, language, form or point of view.
I’ve come to realise that the more the poet’s unique perspective is present in the poem, the more unforgettable it is. So, I encourage the poets who enter the VERVE poetry competition to get weird and get real - to allow their idiosyncratic selves to find a space and a place on the page.
Take risks! Be brave! I can’t wait to read what you come up with.
POEM OF THE FESTIVAL COMPETITION
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 20 JANUARY 2026
CATEGORIES: ADULTS / YOUNG PEOPLE AGED 11-17
ENTRY FEE: ADULTS ONLY. First poem £6, 3 for £14, or 5 for £19
THEME: LOVE
Victoria Kennefick’s second collection Egg/Shell (Carcanet Press, 2024) is a Poetry Book Society Choice for Spring 2024. Her debut collection, Eat or We Both Starve (Carcanet Press, 2021), won the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize and the Dalkey Book Festival Emerging Writer of the Year Award. It was shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize, the Costa Poetry Book Award, the Derek Walcott Poetry Prize and the Butler Literary Prize. She has been appointed Cork County Council Writer-in-Residence 2024.
Here, Victoria discusses Egg/Shell. The collection explores early motherhood, miscarriage, the impact of a spouse's gender transition and the dissolution of a marriage.
Can you write our Poem of the Festival for 2026?
COMPETITION THEME: ‘LOVE’
This year’s theme, ‘LOVE’ celebrates love in all its forms and poems in all their forms too! Love like you mean it. Messy, radical, platonic, self, destructive, chaotic, gooey, or all sustaining. Be true to your point of view. Be curious. Write the best poem you have ever written. There are SO many ways to love, what is your way?
How will the form you create relate to the form of love you address?
Whether your style is traditional or experimental, we welcome your unique perspective on love.
WHY PARTICIPATE?
CASH PRIZES
(ADULTS ONLY) First Prize of £500, second £250, third £100. It’s not just about recognition; you’ll have the chance to fund your next creative project! The winning poem becomes our Poem of the Festival!
PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITY
Selected poems will be published in our competition anthology, allowing your words to reach an even broader readership. Includes prize-winners, 21 commended poems and 10 selected 11-17 yearold poets.
READ YOUR POEM AT THE FESTIVAL
ALL poets featured in our anthology will be invited to attend the festival and read their poem at an event hosted by judge Victoria Kennefick at our festival and given a FREE Sunday Pass to attend the other events on the day. (Unfortunately we aren’t able to pay your travel to get to the festival).
WORKSHOP
(11-17 Year-olds Only) Free ticket to a professional workshop via Zoom.
RECOGNITION
Get your work in front of an esteemed poet and wider audience. Our judges are experienced poets and literary professionals who are eager to discover fresh voices
CONNECTION
Connect with fellow poets and poetry lovers through our vibrant poetry community. Share ideas, collaborate, and immerse yourself in the world of verse.
Competition Rules
The deadline for entry is midnight on 20 JANUARY 2026. Winners Announced February 28th!
Poems must be no more than 80 lines long excluding title, and be typed on A4 paper, either as a Word doc or PDF. For multiple entries, please send each in a separate document.
Entries must not contain the poet’s name either within the document or as a title. Please label your document with the title of the poem only.
The adult competition is open to those aged 16+. The FREE to enter Young Person’s comp is for 11-17 year-olds.
Poems must be majority in English, unpublished and your original work.
ALL poems will be read and judged anonymously by our 2026 Judge Victoria Kennefick.
Poems cannot be altered after submission. The judge’s decisions are final.
No person may win more than one prize.
The copyright of each poem remains with the author, although the organisers have the right to publish winning and commended poems on our website, on online social media and in our competition anthology.
There are three cash prizes: £500 for first place, £250 for second place and £100 for third place, for the adult competition only.
The prize for ten selected 11-17 poets is to attend a FREE Zoom poetry workshop at a date to be agreed after the festival.
All winning, commended and selected 11-17 poems will feature in our competition anthology and poets will be invited to attend our Sunday festival (free Sunday event ticket provided) to read their poem at our Competition Event hosted by Victoria herself. (We cannot pay for your travel to the festival or provide accommodation for this)
Victoria is one of the poets featuring in our WE WRITE HERE Poetry Community Workshops, alongside our patron Dalgit Nagra, Hannah Copley, Jessica Traynor, John McCullough, Leo Boix, Karen McCarthy Woolf, Sarah Howe, Marjorie Lotfi and Gustav Parker Hibbett. You can buy a dozen workshops, half a dozen, a trio or join with the poet who really inspires you.