Could you be Warwickshire Libraries’ Young Poet Laureate 2025/26?
Warwickshire Libraries are delighted to announce that the competition to become Young Poet Laureate 2025/26 is now open. The search is on for the county's twelfth Young Poet Laureate, who will succeed Naomi Mba in the role for 2026/27.
The competition is open to anyone aged between 13 and 17 who lives and is educated in Warwickshire and who would like to perform their own poetry to an audience. Our Young Poet Laureate will take part in events and activities across the county and is offered the mentorship of a professional poet. Past Warwickshire Young Poet Laureates have performed on the radio, on film, at festivals and led their own poetry workshops.
Just some of the events you can be involved with as Young Poet Laureate include:
- Performing at Warwickshire School Library Service Secondary and Junior Book Awards ceremonies
- Hosting poetry workshops at our libraries
- Being a special guest at reading groups for young people in our libraries
- Performing at poetry events in our libraries
- Being commissioned to write a poem for Warwickshire Libraires’ What’s On guide
- Plus so much more!
Applications are now welcome before the deadline of midnight on Monday 1 October 2026. The judges will then get to work and applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted by Friday 23 October.
Our shortlisted candidates will be invited to take part in a Selection Day which includes a workshop with a professional poet, a short individual interview with our judges and a performance in front of an audience at a public event. This will take place at Rugby Library on Saturday 14 November 2026. Please ensure when applying that you are available on this date.
How to apply
Applicants need to:
- Be 13-17 years old.
- Live and be educated in Warwickshire.
- Fill in our Application Form (you can apply online using the link below or download and print the form)
- Submit three poems. One should be inspired by Warwickshire; one should be about or inspired by libraries and the third can be of your own choosing.
- Submit a personal statement and explain in 250 words:
1. Why you want to be Warwickshire Libraries’ Young Poet Laureate
2. How you would promote poetry to the diverse range of people - (Optional) Send a video performing poetry
Download the form (PDF, 129 KB) (see below for instructions about submitting)
The closing date is Monday 1 October 2026 at midnight.
Entries can be submitted online using the link above or emailed to libraryevents@warwickshire.gov.uk. Alternatively, printed entries can be posted to The Reading and Learning Team, Unit 4, WCC Hawkes Point, 1 Hawkes Drive, Heathcote Industrial Estate, Warwick, CV34 6LX (they must arrive by 5pm on Thursday 5 October 2025).
Data Privacy and Use Statement: We need this information in order to accept and assess your application for the Young Poet Laureate position. We need a way to communicate with you. We will store your details in a way that protects your privacy and process it under the lawful basis of public task. Read our full Privacy Notice.
For more information about the Young Poet Laureate scheme or if you have any questions about the application process, please email libraryevents@warwickshire.gov.uk
The Young Poet Laureate competition is run by Warwickshire Libraries and supported by Arts Council England.
Warwickshire Libraries’ Young Poet Laureate 2025/26
Our eleventh Warwickshire Young Poet Laureate 2025/26 is Naomi Mba from von Valley School in Rugby.
On Saturday 29 November 2025 at Rugby Library, six talented and wonderful shortlisted candidates joined us for a day of poetry.Candidates took part in a 90 minute workshop with Coventry Poet Laureate 2021/23, Emilie Lauren Jones, who shared creative tips and advice about how to successfully deliver poetry performances. The candidates then each took part in interviews in front of a judging panel, which consisted of answering a series of questions, including sharing their ideas about the Young Poet Laureate role. Afterwards they performed two of their poems to and audience at a public event in the library. The day culminated in the judges selecting Naomi as Young Poet Laureate 2025/26.
We are looking forward to working with Naomi throughout her year as Warwickshire Young Poet Laureate and already have a wealth of opportunities lined up! Check back here for updates on what Naomi has been getting up to as part of her laureateship.