Girton College is delighted to announce that entries are now open for the 2027 Jane Martin Poetry Prize, its national poetry competition celebrating emerging young poets across the UK.
Now in its 16th year, the prize was established in 2010 in memory of Girton alumna Jane Elizabeth Martin (1978, Classics), through the generous support of her family. It forms an important part of the College’s ongoing commitment to supporting poetry and nurturing new literary talent.
The competition offers a first prize of £1,000 and a second prize of £500. Both winners will also have the opportunity to give a reading at a celebratory event at Girton College, where the prizes will be presented.
This year's judging panel brings together expertise from across the literary and academic worlds, and includes poets Kirsten Irving and Susannah Dickey.
The competition is open to poets who are resident in the UK and aged between 18 and 30 on Thursday 25 February 2027.
Entries are now being welcomed and must be submitted by Monday 30 November 2026. The prize-giving event will take place at Girton College on Thursday 25 February 2027.
Young poets are warmly encouraged to enter and take this opportunity to share their work, gain recognition and celebrate their poetry as part of Girton College's long-standing literary tradition.
Find out more and enter: Jane Martin Poetry Prize