McLellan Poetry Prize 2026

​The McLellan Poetry Prize is now in its 18th year and is awarded by the Arran Theatre and Arts Trust. 


This years Judge will be Gerda Stevenson
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£1000 prizes for English poem and Scots poem
Commendations as Judge sees fit

The closing date is: 15th June 2026






 

 

 

 

Postal entries: entries must be accompanied by a completed entry form (photocopies accepted) and received on or before 15th June 2026. For confirmation your entry has arrived please enclose a stamped addressed envelope marked 'Acknowledged'. Post your completed entry form attached to your payment and two copies of each poem (no staples please) to: The Competition Organiser, McLellan Poetry Competition 2026, The Yellow Land, Whiting Bay, Isle of Arran KA27 8PZ, 

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2026 Competition Rules

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• The competition is open to anyone except members of the McLellan Festival team. You may enter any number of poems and on any subject.

• Poems should be of no more than 80 lines (excluding title), in English or Scots and your own original work (no translations).

• Poems must not have won a prize in any other competition or have been published, self-published or accepted for publication in print or online at the time of the closing date. Entrants must notify the organisers promptly of any change in circumstances that occurs after the date of entry.

• Each poem should be on a separate sheet in black Times New Roman size 12 font and in A4 format (one side only). Poems will be judged anonymously and must NOT include the poet’s name or any other distinguishing mark.

• No alterations may be made once an entry has been received, nor fees refunded.

• The entry fee is £8 for the first per poem and £5 each for subsequent poem submitted on the same form.

• If payment has not been made already online, please send cheque (in sterling) from a UK bank made out to Arran Theatre and Arts Trust Ltd. 

• Copyright remains with the author but Arran Theatre and Arts Trust reserves the right to publish winning and shortlisted poems for 2 years from the date the results are announced.

• The judge’s decision is final. Neither he nor the organisers will enter into any correspondence. Entry implies acceptance of all the rules and failure to comply will result in disqualification.

• Prize-winners will be notified individually before the end of July and invited to read at the award ceremony with Gerda Stevenson on the Isle of Arran on Friday, 4th September 2026. Electronic copies of the winning poems with biographies and photos will be required from the winners. The results of the competition with copies of the poems will be published on the festival website as soon as possible after the award ceremonies.

• The competition organisers reserve the right to change the judge if necessary and not to award prizes if, in the judge’s opinion, such action is justified.

Past judges have included Kathleen Jamie, Robert Crawford, Jackie Kay, Peter and Ann Sansom, Michael Laskey, Simon Armitage, David Constantine, Maura Dooley and Sinead Morrissey, Luke Wright, Hollie McNish, Joelle Taylor, Jim Mckintosh, William Letford and Jim Carruth.