Live Canon

Children's Poetry Competition 2021

We are delighted to announce that the 2021 competition is open for entries with a deadline of March 31st. 
Children and young people aged 18 or under can enter their work, individually, and schools can submit entries for pupils from reception up to year 13. 

Entries will be judged in these four age categories. 
  • Reception to Year 3 (Early Years and Key Stage 1)
  • Years 4-6 (Key Stage 2)
  • Years 7-9 (Key Stage 3)
  • Years 10-13 (Key Stage 4)

There's a £50 book token for the winner in each age category, and a selection of books for the runners up. There's also a prize and a workshop for the best set of entries from one school.

But most excitingly.... 100 poems will be selected to be published in a 2021 Children's Anthology and all young writers featured will receive a complimentary copy and prize pack. 


So don't delay - get scribbling and get your entries in. Entries can be emailed or posted, with an accompanying entry form, which you can download below.


Watch here the 12 winning poems from the 2020 competition, performed by poet Kirsten Irving and actor Neil Urquhart. 


Order the 2020 anthology

The 100 shortlisted poems from 2020 are published in our 2020 children's anthology. You can order your copy here: http://www.livecanon.co.uk/store/product/childrens-anthology-2020

Every year we fundraise to cover the costs of the children's poetry competition, including the prizes, the publishing of the anthology and the administration. You can make a donation to our fundraising below.