Organizer Information

The Alpine Fellowship is a London-based charitable foundation that supports, commissions, and showcases artists, writers, and scholars. Founded on the principle of interdisciplinary exchange, the foundation aims to foster a community of thinkers who engage with the humanities to address contemporary challenges. Their centerpiece is an annual international symposium that gathers creative professionals from around the world to explore a single philosophical theme through the lenses of art, literature, and philosophy.

Title & Description

The Alpine Fellowship Poetry Prize 2026: "Joy" The Poetry Prize is awarded annually for the best single poem or collection of poems responding to the foundation's annual theme. For the 2026 cycle, the theme is "Joy." This call seeks poetic works that offer a profound, original, and innovative exploration of joy—investigating it as an emotion, a state of being, a philosophical concept, or a visceral experience. The organizers look for poetry that transcends simple sentimentality to offer deep insight into the human condition.

Categories

The primary category is Literature and Poetry. Submissions can include:

  • Single Poems: A standalone poetic work.

  • Poetry Collections: A sequence or collection of poems (subject to length limits).

  • Note: All poetic forms (free verse, sonnets, slam poetry, etc.) are welcome, provided they are submitted in written form.

Eligibility

This is an international open call designed for global participation:

  • International: Open to poets of all nationalities and backgrounds.

  • Age: Applicants must be aged 18 or above at the time of entry.

  • Language: All entries must be written in English.

  • Originality: Works must be original and previously unpublished.

  • AI Policy: Artworks/Writing generated or modified by AI or generative software are strictly ineligible and will result in disqualification.

Program Benefits & Awards

  • First Place: A cash grant of £3,000.

  • Second Place: A cash grant of £1,000.

  • Third Place: A cash grant of £1,000.

  • Symposium Invitation: Winners and select runners-up are typically invited to the Annual Alpine Fellowship Symposium. The fellowship provides food and accommodation during the event, offering winners a chance to perform or share their work with a global audience of intellectuals and creators.

Application Fee

There is a £10 entry fee per submission.

Application Requirements

The judging process is conducted anonymously. Applicants must submit:

  • The Poem(s): A maximum of three poems per entry, submitted in a single PDF or Word document.

  • Length: Maximum of 500 words per entry (total for all poems in the document).

  • Themed Statement: A short explanation of how the work responds to the theme of "Joy."

  • Anonymity: Your name or identifying details must not appear anywhere on the uploaded document containing the poetry.

How to Apply?

Online Application

Key Dates

  • Application Deadline: 1 May 2026

  • Notification of Selection: Winners are typically notified via email by June 2026.

  • Annual Symposium: Usually held in late summer/early autumn (Location and exact dates confirmed in the spring).

Location

United Kingdom

Additional Details

The Alpine Fellowship values the quality of the response to the theme above all else. Poets are encouraged to interpret "Joy" in its broadest philosophical sense. Whether the work is experimental or traditional, the judges are looking for a unique "voice" that contributes to the year's thematic discourse. Multiple entries are permitted if separate fees are paid for each.

Website Link:https://alpinefellowship.com/poetry-prize