United Press runs the biggest free-to-enter annual poetry contest in the UK and gives £1000 to each annual winner.

We also run other big-prize poetry competitions. All are free to enter, and open to both new and established poets, young and old.

On this website you can submit your poetry to us, or read news on our latest winners, events and competitions.

Latest News

NPA 2010 Entry Closed, Local Poem Competition Still Open

Entry to the National Poetry Anthology 2010 closed on 30th June 2009. Thank you for the many entries we received, the judges are currently allocating scores to each of them. If you are lucky enough to proceed to the next stage of the competition, you should hear back from us by the end of August.

Although the NPA 2010 is now closed, you can submit your poetry to us for our next competition, the Local Poem Competition 2010. You can submit up to three poems, about something or someone from your home area. The theme can be descriptive, historic, romantic, political, personal - anything you like as long as there is some local connection. For rules and more information, please see competitions page. You can submit your entry online or post it to our address on the right.

Poetry By Moonlight Competition Winner Announced

Poetry By Moonlight book cover The winner of the Poetry By Moonlight competition has been announced. You can read the winning poem and associated press release here.

If you have a poem that has been accepted into the Poetry By Moonlight competition, we are currently processing returned proofs and book orders. If you have not yet returned your proof, please do so soon!

Although we are no longer accepting entries for Poetry By Moonlight, you can still enter the National Poetry Anthology 2009 before 30th June 2009. If you have not yet entered, you can use our submissions form to quickly submit a poem to us online.

National Poetry Anthology 2009 Winner Announced

NPA 2009 CoverThe presentation of the champion's trophy and a cheque for £1000 to National Poetry Anthology 2009 winner Ed Collins is pictured here.

Click here to submit your entry for the National Poetry Anthology 2010.

You can see more information on the competitions page.


A Word from the Editors

firefoxOver the past year, the economic downturn has caused a lot of pressure on small businesses all around the country, and here at United Press it is no different. Whilst trying to maintain the quality service we strive to provide to our poets and authors, there have been some strains on the business in order to get publications out early. United Press is this year having to reduce its team to be able to sufficiently operate and provide our services to the people, who still can afford fund this sophisticated and talented hobby. With these adjustments will come changes in the way we deal with our clients. The new website and customer login system will provide our internet customers with a whole new, fast and efficient way of submitting their poetry, as well as tracking its progress in the publication it has been submitted for. The system will also speed up the time it takes us to publish books, therefore waiting times between submitting your work and receiving your publication will be significantly decreased.