New Northern Poets is a unique mentoring opportunity for rising poets in the north of England, particularly those from backgrounds currently underrepresented within the cultural and publishing sector.
For 2026, Word Up North is pleased to announce new partnerships with long standing and leading poetry magazines in the UK, The Rialto, and Stand Magazine, along with a continued partnership with Poetry@Leeds, the hub for poetry at the University of Leeds.
We aim to discover new talent and provide our New Northern Poets with opportunities to improve their practice, receive 1:1 mentoring from experienced writers and join a network of peers to grow their confidence and experience in both writing and performing their poetry.
Applications for the 2026 programme are now closed. Details of the 2026 New Northern Poets will be announced in June.
