THE CATERPILLAR POETRY PRIZE 2026 IS NOW OPEN
Have you written a poem you think would appeal to children? Then why not enter The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2026!
'Children’s poetry only rarely gets the attention it deserves, so it’s terrific that this high-profile prize shines a light once a year on this small but splendid corner of literary culture. And the fact this is a prize for single poems, judged anonymously, also means the field is wide open! Sometimes someone starry wins, sometimes the prizes go to very new writers. It’s worth entering at any stage of a person’s writing life.' Kate Wakeling
ABOUT THE PRIZE
The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an annual prize for unpublished poems written by adults for children aged 7–11.
Every year since 2015, The Caterpillar Poetry Prize has been awarded to a single poem by a single judge – among them John Hegley, Chrissie Gittins, Roger McGough, Michael Morpurgo & Michael Rosen.
Previous winners include Louise Greig, Coral Rumble, Laura Mucha, Carole Bromley, Ciara O’Connor and Laura Theis.
2nd prize €500
3rd prize €250
The winning poems will be published in the Irish Times online.
'Winning the Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an absolute dream come true!!' Laura Theis
‘For the legendary Michael Rosen to have read my poem is thrilling. For him to have chosen it is the stuff of dreams.' Ciara O'Connor
'Winning The Caterpillar Poetry Prize brought me a book publishing deal and many wonderful opportunities thereafter. Thank you with all my heart.' Louise Greig
THE JUDGE
Robert Schechter's The Red Ear Blows Its Nose: Poems for Children and Others was named one of the best books of 2023 by School Library Journal and Bank Street College, and received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews, Booklist and School Library Journal. His children's poems have appeared in The Caterpillar, Highlights for Children, Cricket, Spider, Ladybug, The School Magazine, The Washington Post, The Spectator and Light, as well as numerous anthologies.
‘A dazzling tour de force.’ Kenn Nesbitt, former US Children's Poet Laureate
TESTIMONIALS
‘I am absolutely thrilled and delighted to have won The Caterpillar Poetry Prize. I actually cried with joy when I got the email. I have won a number of international poetry competitions with my poems for adults, but I can honestly say this tops them all.’ Carole Bromley
I was astonished and delighted to hear that I had won The Caterpillar Poetry Prize.’ Christine McBeth
‘The Caterpillar is such a unique and inspired magazine. Winning The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is all shades of wonderful!’ Coral Rumble
‘I think The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an important award, particularly as there are so few outlets for children’s poets, and it’s a huge honour to have won it.’ Laura Mucha
‘Like all of us, I spend more of my life than I’d like to reading emails. Recently I opened one from The Caterpillar. Now all I want to do is write something that could make a reader feel half as happy as reading that email made me.’ Fergal McNally
HOW TO ENTER
The Prize is open to anyone (over 16), as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.
The poems can be on any subject.
The entry fee is €16 per poem. You can
ENTER ONLINE or send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order (Irish only) made payable to ‘The Moth Magazine Ltd.’ with an
ENTRY FORM or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of your poem(s) attached to: The Caterpillar, Ardan Grange, Milltown, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland H14 K768.
**If you are concerned about formatting online, please go through the online process and then email your poem as a Word attachment with your entry number directly to enquiries@thecaterpillarmagazine.com.**
Please remember to
READ THE RULES of the competition before you enter.
CLOSING DATE 31 MARCH 2026
The winners will be announced in June 2026.
Call 00 353 (0)87 2657251 or email enquiries@thecaterpillarmagazine.com for more details.
