This year’s Bangor Poetry Competition’s WINNER, RUNNER Up, Highly Commended and Commended Poets will be announced at Aspects Literary Festival on Sunday 27th September at 7pm. Please do join us at this gorgeous free event to celebrate and support these talented writers who will be reading their shortlisted poems. This year’s competition and celebration launch event is part of Southbank Centre’s ‘A Poet in Every Port’ programme, and we are proud to showcase our ten shortlisted poets at the event.

The fabulous multitalented singer and actor Donna Kernan will be opening and closing the event with some beautiful songs…we will have some readings from contributors… and there will be complimentary refreshments and some sweet treats upon arrival. Tickets are totally FREE of charge… and the event is set in the beautiful surroundings of Bangor Castle’s Chamber Room. We cannot wait to see you all there: GET YOUR FREE TICKETS HERE before they run out: Bring family and friends- We would love to see you! Tickets are going fast. The 13th Bangor Poetry Competition and Launch of Issue 24 of The Bangor Literary Journal | Aspects

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We are delighted to showcase the ten poems on the themes of ROOT/ ESSENCE/ JOURNEY which made it onto this year’s Bangor Poetry Competition shortlist. Each poem is displayed below in our online gallery and the winner will be selected by public vote. Each shortlisted poet will be invited to read at the awards ceremony at Bangor Castle on Sunday 27th September 2026 at 7pm which is part of Aspects Literary Festival, where the winner will be announced. Huge congratulations to all who made the longlist and shortlist this year! I will be in touch (before Sunday lunch time)with anyone on the shortlist to arrange further details.

Voting for the ten shortlisted poems is NOW OPEN and closes at 10pm (UK/Ireland time) on Tuesday 22nd September 2026.

Instructions:

-Read the 10 shortlisted poems.

-Select your first, second and third favourite poems.

-Complete and submit the online voting form at the bottom of this page.

–Votes are strictly one vote per person and a full name, email and postcode is required for your vote to be valid. Your slip will only be counted if you make three different selections- the winner is decided on a points system. First vote= 3 points/ Second vote= 2 points/ Third vote= 1 point.

13th Annual Poetry Competition: GALLERY OF SHORTLISTED POEMS

Complete the form

to vote for your three favourite poems. You must vote for THREE DIFFERENT (1st/2nd/3rd) poems and complete all parts of the voting form for your vote to be counted.