The Poetry Trail
the ISLE OF MAN POETRY SOCIETY IOM Poetry Trail 2026
Entries for the 2026 Poetry trail can be submitted from 1 September to 1st December 2025. The 10 winning poems will be displayed as A4 yellow posters around Douglas City Centre, from 14th February to 14th March 2026. Each winning poet will get an A3 copy of their winning poem. The Trail promotes poetry on the streets of the IOM.
All 10 winning poems included will be printed in a future issue of Manx Reflections
(a booklet produced by the IOM Poetry Society)
and each winner will receive one free copy of the booklet and a copy of their winning poster.
Entries for the 2026 Poetry trail can be submitted from 1 September to 1st December 2025. The 10 winning poems will be displayed as A4 yellow posters around Douglas City Centre, from 14th February to 14th March 2026. Each winning poet will get an A3 copy of their winning poem. The Trail promotes poetry on the streets of the IOM.
All 10 winning poems included will be printed in a future issue of Manx Reflections
(a booklet produced by the IOM Poetry Society)
and each winner will receive one free copy of the booklet and a copy of their winning poster.
GUIDELINES
- Poems must be no more than 25 lines (excluding title) and in word format, not pdf.
- You may enter up to three poems, there are no residency requirements or any prescribed theme. Only those aged 18 yrs or older can enter.
- The entries will be judged anonymously by two judges who will be looking for poems that entertain, inspire, uplift, provide food for thought, raise a smile, or touch a nerve.
- The poems should be suitable for display in public and be an asset to literature in the Isle of Man.
- The judging of entries will be confidential and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the selection.
- No identifying details should be included on poems submitted.
- Name, address, telephone number, titles of the poems submitted and method of payment (BACS or cheque) should be in the body of the submission email.
- Email submissions with the subject heading Poetry Trail 2026 to [email protected]
- Or if it is a postal entry then the entry form must accompany the submission.
- No changes to submitted entries are allowed, please ensure the submitted version is the correct one.
- By submitting an entry, you agree to your poem being included in the IOM Poetry Trail and if you win, have your winning poem printed on a bright yellow A4 poster and put up on a venue in Douglas City Centre.
- The guidelines and entry form are below and can be downloaded or printed using the links
