Wells competition returns with £5,000 prize pot
By Laura Linham 24th Feb 2026
Writers in Wells and across Somerset are being urged to "spring into action" as the 2026 International Competitions open in April.
The Wells Festival of Literature will begin accepting entries from Tuesday, April 1, with a total prize fund of £5,000 up for grabs across four categories. The annual contest attracts entries from around the world and has become a fiercely fought fixture in the literary calendar.
Three prizes will be awarded in each category, with winners announced at a celebratory event at 2pm on Monday, October 19, 2026, at Cedars Hall in Wells. The event will include a poetry reading and prize-giving ceremony.
The four categories for 2026 are:
- Open Poetry, judged by Clare Shaw
- Short Story, judged by Carole Burns
- Book for Children, judged by Catherine Bruton
- Young Poets, judged by Julia Webb
Entries for Open Poetry, Short Story and Book for Children will close on June 30. The Young Poets category will remain open until July 31.
Organisers say each section is overseen by a respected, published judge, and a shortlist of potential winners will be released in September.
Alongside the main prizes, there will also be special awards for local entrants.
Full details, including entry requirements for each category, are available on the Wells Festival of Literature website.
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