The Wells Festival of Literature has officially announced the winners of its 2026 Open Poetry Competition. The announcement, made on October 22, 2026, in Wells, Somerset, United Kingdom, highlights a diverse range of poetic talent through its various award categories.
Laura Strickland secured the top honor in the competition for her poem, “I Have A Polaroid Of Me.” Following closely, Caroline Good was awarded second place for her work, “The Chameleon,” while Peter Marshall earned third place with his poem, “Tractatus Galapagos.” Additionally, the festival recognized local talent by presenting the local-author prize to Lucy Manners for her poem, “Nunavut.”
The Open Poetry Competition is a key component of the Wells Festival of Literature, providing a platform for poets to showcase their work within the Somerset community and beyond. This year's results celebrate both established voices and local writers contributing to the literary landscape of the United Kingdom.
The announcement concludes a period of significant literary activity for the festival, as it continues to foster poetic expression through its competitive programming.