After reading, reviewing, deliberating, and discussing over 500 entries received from around the world, we are delighted to announce that the 2023 Canterbury Festival Poet of the Year is Derek Sellen for his poem the tailor. The result was announced at the Awards Evening on National Poetry Day on 5th October.

Second prize went to akin by Gary Studley and third to Iron Wood Reverie & Other Reminiscences by Mara Adamitz Scrupe.

The judges this year were Luigi Marchini (Chair of SaveAs Writers) Greta Ross (Poet of the Year 2022) and Clifford Liles (Award Winning Poet). 

We send our warmest congratulations to the winners.

The Judges’ notes about the shortlisted poems will be available to read shortly, and the poems themselves, along with all the other longlisted poems, may be found in the Poet of the Year 2023 Anthology available from the Festival Office for £5.

We send our congratulations to all the winners and thank everyone who entered.  Watch out for the Poet of the Year Competition 2024 which will be launched in March.

Click here for judges comments on all shortlisted poems.