National Poetry Library

09/10/2026

We're beyond delighted that Canadian poet, essayist, and translator Anne Carson has been awared the 2026 Nobel Prize for Literature “for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature”. 🏆 🎉

Read more here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq4g1j54nepyo

30/09/2026

Every day is a poetry day at the National Poetry Library but even we get a little bit excited on the eve of National Poetry Day!

So we'd like to share with you some of the amazing poetry events we've got coming up in the National Poetry Library and at Southbank Centre in October for the London Literature Festival.

Kwame Dawes: Afro-Style School & Kinships
Thu 22 October, National Poetry Library, 8pm
Join Jamaica’s Poet Laureate for a talk celebrating the poetry programmes and collectives that have fought against literature and publishing’s lack of diversity.
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/kwame-dawes-afro-style-school-kinships/

Out-Spoken: October featuring Kwame Dawes, Alice Oswald and Max Porter
Fri 23 October, Queen Elizabeth Hall, 7.30pm
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/out-spoken-october/

Poetry Day!
Sat 24 October, Queen Elizabeth Hall Foyer, 11am-7pm
View the rarities, hidden gems and new acquisitions from our collection curated by National Poetry Library staff. Come and discover our current poetry obsessions! With a workshop brought to you by Page of Wands and readings from 5 years of the Southbank Centre's New Poets Collection. Free, just come along!
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/poetry-day/

Poems on the Underground: 40th Anniversary
Sat 24 October, Purcell Room, 5pm
A feast of poetry and music celebrating 40 years of Poems on the Underground, Transport for London’s great public poetry programme.
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/poems-on-the-underground-40th-anniversary/

Words In, Words Out: A Night in With Koestler Arts
Sat 24 October, Level 5 Function Room, 4pm
Hear the voices of writers inside the criminal justice system
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/words-in-words-out-a-night-in-with-koestler-arts/

A Celebration of British Somali Poetry
Sat 24 October, Purcell Room, 12pm
Explore how diaspora Somali poets rework an ancient tradition through readings and conversation with award-winning poets, including Samatar Elmi, Asmaa Jama, Ibrahim Hirsi, Safiya Mohamed and Zakariye.
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/a-celebration-of-british-somali-poetry/

The 2026 Forward Prizes for Poetry
Sat 24 October, Queen Elizabeth Hall & Live Stream, 7pm
Discover some of the best poetry coming out of the UK and Ireland, and be here as the winners of the 2026 Forward Prizes for Poetry are announced live on stage.
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/the-2026-forward-prizes-for-poetry-ceremony/

11/09/2026

Call for poems on the the theme of Rest, honouring the remarkable women of KlimaSeniorinnen, for inclusion in a new poetry pamphlet from Just Poetry, a collective focussed on climate justice through verse.

Closing date for entries: 2 October 2026.

Find out more & details on how to submit your poems here:
https://maps.greenpeace.org/maps/gpint/just-poetry/rest

08/09/2026

After a summer break while our Mobile Poetry Library has been on the road (two stops still to go) our Special Edition series is back!

On the first Wednesday in October we're welcoming Shanzhai Lyric who will be reading and wearing poetry inspired by counterfeit T-shirts made in China, shaking up what we think about language and power.

'Endless Garment' is a new poetry book composed by roving poetic research unit Shanzhai Lyric from text found on T-shirts, arranging these poems around recurrent themes such as landscape, gender, freedom and property.

For this event, collaborators and co-conspirators model T-shirts from the Shanzhai Lyric archive of over 400 poetry-garments as local poets read corresponding excerpts from the book – join us for what promises to be part poetry reading, part runway show!

£13 (£9 if booked on site at the Southbank Centre box office)
8pm, Wed 7 Oct
More info and tickets:

https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whats-on/special-edition-shanzhai-lyric-runway-reading/

01/09/2026

We'll be at the London Multicultural Book & Poetry Fair at Conway Hall this coming Saturday 5th Sep 2026. Come and say hello!

For more details and free tickets follow this link:

https://www.londonpoetrybooks.com/multicultural-book-poetry-fair/

14/07/2026

Do poems have to rhyme?

Poet Lily Blacksell and poet librarian Lorraine Mariner discuss!

Read their thoughts on rhyme here in the Southbank Centre Magazine:

https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/magazine/do-poems-have-to-rhyme/

09/07/2026

Poetry International Festival kicks off tomorrow Friday 10th July!

In between the football ⚽️ and tennis 🎾 come on down to Southbank Centre to enjoy some poetry!

There are celebrations of Benjamin Zephaniah and Allen Ginsberg, joint readings from Peter Gizzi & Denise Riley, Raymond Antrobus & Ilya Kaminsky, Yang Lian & Sudeep Sen, Batool Abu Akleen & Alice Oswald, Kim Hyesoon & Paul Muldoon, Maggie Nelson reading from her new book 'Slicks' and cult class 'Bluets' and much more.

The weekend also includes a poetry zine fair on Saturday and our Mobile Poetry Library 🚌 will be on site on Sunday.

Full programme and tickets here:

The world’s most celebrated poets perform their work live on stage and bring you into their enchanting creative worlds.

19/06/2026

Thank you for having us! 🚚📚❤️

05/06/2026

The National Poetry Library is on the road!

This weekend, Sat 6 – Sun 7 June, our Mobile Poetry Library will be in Weston-super-Mare at the Whirligig Festival, Super Culture

Come and browse our poetry collection, specially curated for Weston-super-Mare, and have a go at writing a poem or even recording it.

The Mobile Poetry Library will be in various locations across the UK until September ☀️

Find out more about A Poet in Every Port and the destinations the Mobile Poetry Library will be visiting here:
https://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/create-learn/talent-artist-development/a-poet-in-every-port/

25/03/2026

Our next Special Edition event, East of the Sun, West of the Moon is next Wed 1 Apr 2026, 8pm

Seren Books poets Maggie Harris and Taz Rahman will be reading their poems and discussing shared influences - landscapes, journeys and making sense of belonging to multiple cultural identities.

Maggie Harris’ latest poetry collection 'I Sing to the Greenhearts' has recently been longlisted for the Jhalak Poetry Prize 2026.

Find out more and book tickets for this Special Edition event here:

Landscapes, journeys and making sense of belonging to multiple cultural identities connect the poetry of Maggie Harris and Taz Rahman.