Our annual poetry competition celebrating the best of mental health writing is back

Please note, the Happiful Poetry Prize 2025 is now closed for entries. To hear about upcoming opportunities and to read the winning poems, sign up for a free digital subscription to Happiful magazine.

Seasoned pro or fresh newbie, wherever you are in your writing journey, you are personally invited to enter the Happiful Poetry Prize 2025.

We’re looking for poems that explore the topic of mental health and wellbeing in unique, engaging, and empowering ways. The competition is free to enter, and no prior experience is necessary; the only thing we require is a passion for writing!

The winner will receive £100, and four shortlisted poets will receive a £25 National Book Token. All five poems will be published in issue 96 of Happiful.

Please submit:

  • One entry per person, of a poem no more than 25 lines long.
  • Your poem’s title.
  • Your full name and address.
  • A short biography, no more than 50 words long.

Enter the Happiful Poetry Prize 2025

The deadline for entries is 23:59 Monday 18 November 2024. All poets will be contacted with the results in February 2025. UK & NI only. Read the full T&Cs. Good luck!

Looking for inspiration?

The best writers are great readers. Head to happiful.com/poetry-prize to read Happiful’s 2024 winning and shortlisted poems, as well as exclusive Q&As with the poets behind them, and a practical tips and prompts to get started on your own poem.