Following a successful debut in 2024, we are excited to announce the return of our poetry competition for young writers, in collaboration with BBC Suffolk! We are also delighted to reveal that the competition has expanded to include BBC Norfolk and BBC Cambridgeshire, further widening its reach across East Anglia.
We’re inviting children aged 7-11 from Suffolk, Norfolk, and Cambridgeshire to explore this year’s theme of Friendship, with the winner getting the amazing opportunity to perform their poem live on our beautiful Waterfront Stage on the opening night of Latitude.
Last year’s winner, 11-year-old Anna from near Lavenham, impressed audiences with her heartfelt poem The Mother Tree, a powerful piece about the environment. Anna’s moving performance on our Waterfront Stage stood out, inspiring many young poets to embrace their creativity. The 2025 competition continues this momentum, encouraging children to reflect on the significance of friendship through their poetry.
Melvin Benn, the Founder of Latitude, stated, “Latitude Festival has always celebrated the power of words and the creative spirit, and this poetry competition offers a wonderful opportunity for young voices to find a platform. Following last year’s incredible response, we are delighted to continue fostering a love of poetry and to provide more young poets with the chance to express themselves and share their unique perspectives. I hope this competition evolves into a nationally recognised platform where young poets from across the country can showcase their passion for poetry and articulate their individual voices.”
We have a long-standing and proud history of hosting some of the UK’s most renowned poets, including Poet Laureates Simon Armitage and Carol Ann Duffy, Benjamin Zephaniah, Salena Godden, and punk poet Dr John Cooper Clarke. The winner of the 2025 competition will have the honour of opening the festival with their poem on the evening of Thursday, 24th July 2025, on our stunning Waterfront Stage.
HOW TO ENTER:
Children aged 7-11 from Suffolk, Norfolk, or Cambridgeshire are now invited to submit an original poem on the theme of Friendship.
Entries will be accepted until midday on Friday, 11th April 2025. Poems must be no longer than 200 words and should creatively explore the meaning and power of friendship.
