2026 Tower Poetry Competition winners announced

12 May 2026

Christ Church, University of Oxford is delighted to announce the winners of the 2026 Christopher Tower Poetry Competition, the highest-value prize for young poets (16–18) in the UK.

Judged by Fiona Benson, Matthew Hollis, and Dr Anna Nickerson, over 1,400 submissions were received and carefully narrowed down to just 13 prizewinners. With a first prize of £5,000, a second prize of £3,000, a third prize of £1,500, and ten ‘Commended’ awards of £500 each, the total prize money amounted to more than £14,000.

Dr Anna Nickerson said: ‘This year’s theme – “A Riddle” – gave young poets an opportunity to experiment with one of the oldest forms of poetry in the English language. Riddles might be slight, but they require dexterity; we were looking for poems that skilfully combined the simple with the strange to achieve what Aristotle thought was the distinctive accomplishment of the riddle – the expression of “true facts under impossible conditions”. The best poems did just that, and we congratulate the winners.’

The winners with the judges and the Dean

Attendees of the Tower Poetry prize-giving event 2026

Winners and their guests were invited to Christ Church to celebrate on 22 April, joined by members of the Tower Family. All 13 poets read their poems, as Fiona Benson and Matthew Hollis announced the winners, with the Dean of Christ Church presenting certificates.

2026 Tower Poetry Competition winners announced

First Prize

Second Prize

Third Prize

Commended