Poetry in the Gallery: Emergence 2026

Featuring the showcase for the Emergence 2026 poetry competition. All shortlisted poets will be invited to read, and the three winning poets—including the recipient of the Leon Priestnall Poetry Prize—will be recognized. There will, as always, be an open mic for poets who are not part of the showcase.

The Leon Priestnall Poetry Prize is awarded to the winner of the Emergence poetry competition. It was established in 2025 in memory of the Birmingham-based poet, Leon Priestnall. The competition ran the previous year but with no formal title for the poetry prize.

Emergence 2026 Poetry Applications are open through January 30, 2026. Learn more: studiochannelislands.org/emergence-2026.