The Charles Causley International Poetry Competition is now open for entries!
Enter by filling in the form below.
We are thrilled that this year’s Head Judge is the remarkable Rowan Williams. Shortlisting judges include an array of wonderful poets associated with the Charles Causley Trust.
The theme this year is Heritage, whatever, wherever and whomever that may mean to you.
If you are unable to enter online, you can enter by post, though this year we are encouraging a paperless entry process contributing to our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint and find ways of making our activities more sustainable.
The closing date for the competition is midnight on 31 December 2026 and the winners will be informed in March 2027 and awarded at the 2027 Launceston Poetry Festival in May.
- The first prize winner will receive £1,000 and a weeklong residency in Cyprus Well.
- The second prize winner will receive £200.
- The third prize winner will receive £100.
- Podium winners will also receive 2027 Launceston Poetry Festival general passes.
- There will also be two Highly Commended placed poets.
HOW TO ENTER
As already mentioned, we are committed to reducing our carbon footprint and finding ways of making our activities more sustainable. We urge those entering our competition to do so online by using our submissions portal below, keeping in mind the following:
- Keep your poems anonymous. Your name must not appear anywhere on the submission document itself — including in the file name, headers, or document properties. We read entries anonymously, so any document with the poet's name on it will not be considered.
- File name: Save your document using the title of your first poem.
- 40 lines maximum per poem (title, epigraphs, dedications, and blank lines don't count). Please include a line total in the header.
- Typed, single-sided A4, single-spaced. No handwritten entries.
- Entries must never have been published, self-published, published on any website or broadcast in any form, nor currently entered in any other competition before 31 December 2026.
If you need to enter by post, please read our Rules of Entry document (attached above) for further instructions.
Please see our Rules of Entry document for further information and our terms and conditions.
Reach out to rita.camposteixeira@causleytrust.org for any questions or concerns.