We are delighted to announce that entries are now being accepted for the 2026 Seamus Heaney Poetry Prize for a First Collection. The winner will be announced during the Seamus Heaney Centre’s annual Poetry Summer School, at the Award Night readings in June 2026.

About the Prize

The Seamus Heaney Poetry Prize for a First Collection is awarded to a writer whose first full collection has been published in the preceding year, by a UK or Ireland-based publisher. The winning writer receives £5,000 and is invited to read at a prestigious public event (subject to health and safety restrictions). For this they receive travel, accommodation, and relevant expenses. A Judging Panel will be appointed by the Seamus Heaney Centre to compile a shortlist of up to five books. 

a)     Three copies of each work must be submitted with each application. These are not returnable.

b)     Each submission must include an Entry Form (This may be submitted before or after the hardcopy books are posted).

c)     Entries must be submitted in hardcopy to the Seamus Heaney Centre (address below).

d)     The Seamus Heaney Centre will acknowledge receipt of submissions by email.

e)     The deadline for entries to the 2026 Poetry Prize is Tuesday 31 March 2026.

a)     Entries must be the first collection by the author.

b)     Entries must have a min. 40 pages.

c)     Entries must have been published in the UK or Ireland between 1 January and 31 December 2025.

d)     Entries must be in printed book format, not that of a magazine, pamphlet, periodical, or ebook.

e)     Authors may be of any nationality, but the work must be published in the UK or Ireland.

f)      The work must be written in, or have been translated into the English language.

g)     All books must carry an ISBN.

h)     Submissions may come from publishers, who may enter an unlimited number of books. 

i)      Anthologies or collections of works by more than one author are not eligible.

j)      A collection of translations by various authors is not eligible.

k)     A book by a current judge is not eligible.

l)      Members of staff, students and recent graduates at the Seamus Heaney Centre are not eligible.