Next generation of literary talent unveiled as 2026 New Northern Poets announced

A prestigious launchpad for the region's finest emerging literary voices has officially unveiled its class of 2026.

Six exceptionally promising poets based across the North of England have been selected for the fourth annual New Northern Poets cohort, rising to the top of a highly competitive 63-strong field of applicants.

Run by West Yorkshire-based literature development charity Word Up North, the initiative provides a comprehensive, paid mentoring and professional development programme.

This year, the scheme expands its reach through major new partnerships with leading UK poetry publications The Rialto and Stand Magazine, alongside a continuing collaboration with the University of Leeds’ poetry hub, Poetry@Leeds.

Over the coming months, the chosen writers will receive tailored one-to-one mentoring from established industry figures, join a supportive regional peer network, and build their profiles by recording dedicated poetry podcast episodes, leading reading groups, and running creative workshops.

The high-profile programme will culminate in a live showcase performance at the historic Ilkley Literature Festival this October.

Meet the Northern Poets 2026 Cohort

The final six writers represent an array of diverse themes, backgrounds, and creative accomplishments from across Yorkshire and the wider North

• Spencer Wood (Leeds): A local writer and facilitator whose debut poetry pamphlet, fain, is scheduled for publication this July. Alongside his writing, Wood works for an arts charity leading shared reading groups within criminal justice settings across the North.

• Pamela Crowe (Leeds): An established local talent whose previous work has been exhibited at Leeds Art Gallery and shortlisted for the Northern Debut Award. Crowe holds a deep connection to the city's academic roots, having studied English Literature and Theatre Studies at the University of Leeds.

• Nicky Kippax (York): A Northern Writers’ Award winner widely published in prestigious journals such as The London Magazine and PN Review. Kippax actively co-hosts the Rise Up! poetry and spoken word celebration in York while editing her first full collection.

• Wendelin Law (Sheffield): Originally from Hong Kong, Law is the winner of the Edwin Morgan Poetry Award 2024 and previously claimed second prize in the Rialto x RSPB Nature & Place Poetry Competition. Her work frequently interrogates profound themes of displacement, historical trauma, and protest poetry.

• Barsa Ray: A highly commended poet in the National Poetry Centre's Smeaton 300 competition whose short fiction has earned a nomination for the prestigious BBC National Short Story Award 2026. Ray steps into the cohort this year after narrowly missing out as a shortlisted finalist in 2025.

• Becky May (Manchester): A graduate of the Manchester Writing School who serves as a Poet Mentor for the Comino Foundation in partnership with the Manchester Poetry Library. May is deeply embedded in the Northern spoken word circuit and joined the team at Manchester's longest-running spoken word night, Verbose MCR, in late 2024.

The scheme has rapidly turned into a critical pipeline for the UK's broader literary ecosystem. This year's stellar mentoring team includes Michael Mackmin (co-founder of The Rialto), John Whale (managing editor of Stand), and celebrated poets Hannah Copley, Matt Howard, and Esther Morgan.

Reflecting on the compounding success of the initiative, Becky Bromley, Programme Manager at Word Up North, noted the remarkable trajectories of previous participants.

Becky explains: "Since we launched New Northern Poets in 2023, we have had the great pleasure of working with 16 immensely talented poets from the north of England to develop their creative practice.

"Previous New Northern Poet participants have gone on to great success in achieving their career goals. Beyond the awards and publications, they have been inspired to tackle new poetic structures and subjects, become more confident in their talent and created a community of supportive northern poetry peers."

Past alumni have quickly made national waves; notable successes include 2024 participant Claire Lynn being shortlisted for a Forward Prize, and 2023 core poet Emma Conally-Barklem performing live on BBC Radio 4’s Front Row.

The 2026 programme officially gets underway this month, with the incoming cohort gaining immediate access to Poetry@Leeds’ international Poetry’s Environments conference, joining over 160 global delegates, scholars, and publishers.

Public tickets for the 2026 New Northern Poets Showcase at the Ilkley Literature Festival this October will officially go on sale from August 25 and will be made available through the Ilkley Literature Fest’s official website. If you're interested in future opportunities or submitting work for 2027 consideration, please sign up for updates via Word Up North.