The T. S. Eliot Prize for 2026 edition has released its shortlisted poets of ten exciting collections of ‘linguistic disruption, personal reflection [and] humorous lyricism’. ‘They are books’, says Leontia Flynn, Chair of judges, that ‘share a determination to meet the challenges faced in difficult times with closer attention to language’.

The judging panel of Flynn, Ishion Hutchinson and Daisy Lafarge chose the Shortlist from 174 poetry collections submitted by 65 British and Irish publishers. It comprises poets both well-known and less familiar, including writers of multiple collections, one previously shortlisted poet, two second collections and one debut. Poets hail from Canada, Ireland, Jamaica and the USA, and publishers include both larger and smaller presses, some long established and some newly founded.

The shortlisted poets, the title, and the Press that published them are as follows:

• Jorie Graham, Killing Spree (Carcanet Press)
• Keith Jarrett, Hide Me Under the Blood and I Shall Be Satisfied (Bad Betty Press)
• Imani Mason Jordan, PIVOT (HELA Press)
• Sylvia Legris, Sleep Gate (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
• Shara McCallum, Behold (Peepal Tree Press)
• Kim Moore, The House of Broken Things (Corsair Poetry)
• Andrew Motion, Gravity Archives (Faber & Faber)
• Holly Pester, Cafés (Fitzcarraldo Editions)
• Jana Prikryl, The Channel (Faber & Faber)
• Billy Ramsell, Render (Banshee Press)

After the completion of the reading process, the judge, Leontia Flynn, has this to say:

“Though very different in voice, style and preoccupation, these ten collections share a determination to meet the challenges faced in difficult times with closer attention to language. Linguistic disruption, personal reflection, humorous lyricism – or indeed all these things at once – can be found in this work. Each of these books reminds us why, when nothing else makes much sense, it’s to poetry we turn to reorient ourselves.”

The hugely popular T. S. Eliot Prize Shortlist Readings, led by MC Ian McMillan, will take place on Sunday 17 January 2027 at 7pm in the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall as part of its literature programme. This is the largest annual poetry event in the UK. Tickets for the Readings are now on sale. A live stream is also available.

The winner of the 2026 Prize will be announced at the Award Ceremony on Monday 18 January 2027. The shortlisted poets will each be presented with cheques for £1,500 and the winner will receive a cheque for £25,000 – the most valuable prize in British poetry.

Author

Paul Olayioye