The winners and commended entries for New Poets 27 and Single Poet 2026 were announced by the two judges at the Box Factory on Friday 7th August 2026.
New Poets 27 was judged by Rob de Kok:
WInners:
- Verity Laughton with Swallows
- Rob McKinnon with ember rain…
- Tracy McNally with Wishing on Satellites
Highly commended: Polly Cass with Rivers and Roads
Single Poet 2026 was judged by Steve Brock:
Winner: Helen Hutton with the syntax of silence
- Runner-up: Chelsea Avard with telling secrets
- Highly commended: Amanda Solly with Encyclopedia Ephemera
- Commended: Peter Mahoney with Putain Quais.
The new volumes will be launched on Saturday, 12th December at the Wheatsheaf Hotel in Thebarton. Doors open at 2:00pm for a 2.30pm start until approx 4.30pm.
Read the judges’ reports below:
New Poets 27
Single Poet 2026