CLiPPA 2026 – Shortlist Announced!
15 April, 2026The shortlist for this year’s CLiPPA (CLPE Poetry Award) has been announced at a live, online event that was watched by thousands of school children from across the UK.
The CLiPPA is the UK’s leading prize for poetry for children. Each year, the award highlights outstanding new collections for the young and very young. Past winners include Valerie Bloom, Joseph Coelho, Carol Ann Duffy, Matt Goodfellow, Jackie Kay and Michael Rosen.
In the National Year of Reading 2026, when the nation is invited to ‘Go All In’ on their passions through reading, this year’s shortlist includes something for everyone: there are irresistible new finger rhymes for the youngest poetry fans, imaginative and informative poems about bugs, a playful debut collection inspired by video games, and a superb anthology of poems by Black poets from the US, Caribbean and the UK, plus a sumptuous, illustrated anthology featuring favourite poems from a poet who has been entertaining and inspiring children for over 40 years.
The five shortlisted titles were selected by an expert judging panel that included Children’s Laureate Wales Nicola Davies and Colette Hiller, author of last year’s winning collection Colossal Words for Kids.
Commenting on this year’s shortlist, Chair of Judges Nicola Davies said: ‘One of the great powers of poetry for children and young people is in its variety; every child can find a poem that speaks to them. The list of nominees for this year’s CLiPPA absolutely represented that glorious diversity of voice and form. Which of course made the job of the judging panel both especially joyful and especially difficult! After much heartfelt deliberation and reading poems aloud to each other, we arrived at a shortlist that I think contains something for everyone. I hope every child can find a poem contained in this shortlist that will delight them and in which they feel their experience of being alive in the world today, reflected.’
The CLiPPA encourages schools to explore the shortlist with their pupils through its free Shadowing Scheme, which each year prompts poetry performances in hundreds of classrooms. Schools can download the free teaching resources to use with their pupils and can also submit videos of pupils performing their favourite poem for the chance to be part of the CLiPPA Award ceremony later this year. This year’s Shadowing Scheme opens on 20th April and the submission deadline for videos is 21st May.
Anjali Patel, judge and Lead Advisory Teacher, CLPE, said: ‘This year’s CLiPPA shortlist demonstrates the rich variety and high quality of the poetry being published for children today. At CLPE we know that poetry is the perfect route into reading and oracy for children and that it has a unique appeal to their love of language and play, so we are delighted to be sharing these five books with young people, and in the National Year of Reading expect record numbers of schools to participate in the CLiPPA Shadowing.’
Congratulations to all the shortlisted poets!
The 2026 CLiPPA shortlist:
The Poetry World of John Agard by John Agard, illustrated by Shirley Hottier (Otter-Barry Books). John Agard selects 80 of his liveliest, funniest and most engaging poems in this masterful collection, which shows off his unique talent for observation and mischief, as well as the joy he finds in language. The warmth and playfulness is irresistible, say the judges, Agard’s voice is so distinctive and reading this is like getting a hug. (6+)
A First Book of Bugs by Simon Mole, illustrated by Adam Ming (Walker Books). A brilliant book to share with children, say the judges, it explores biology through the milieu of poetry and will both spark their curiosity about the natural world and their desire to write. (5+)
Five Little Friends: A Collection of Finger Rhymes by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Fiona Woodcock (Walker Books). This will have everyone joining in, say the judges, who loved the memorable rhymes, the storytelling element and the way the book provides so many opportunities for contact and bonding. (3+)
This is Not a Small Voice: Poems by Black Poets edited by Traci N. Todd, illustrated by Jade Orlando (Nosy Crow). Beautiful, say the judges, wonderful poems full of music, insight and originality, with strong design and handsome illustrations. (10+)
Press Start to Play by Sam Gayton, illustrated by Jack Noel (Andersen Press). This inventive debut collection cleverly bridges the gap between gaming and poetry, inviting readers to ‘press start on poetry’ and treat language as a kind of playground…. Interactive, relatable and a gateway into word play, there’s lots to appeal here, say the judges, and the book dispels old notions of what poetry is. (8+)
The winner of the CLiPPA 2026 will be revealed at a live-streamed award ceremony at the National Theatre on 9th July, where the young winners of the Shadowing Scheme competition will have the opportunity to perform alongside all the shortlisted poets.
