The Stephen Spender Prize 2024 poetry translation competition is open for entries by the deadline of 31st July. This is an annual competition to translate into English any poem from any language, as well as British Sign Language, with a chance to win cash prizes and publication. There is a Youth Prize, Open Prize, Schools Laureate prize, Teacher Laureate Prize and the Portuguese Spotlight prize. Entrants must be UK or Irish citizens or residents, or pupils at a British School overseas, apart from the Open prize which is open internationally.
Teachers can now register here to involve their students. All those who register will receive regular resources and activities to help them to integrate creative translation into their teaching.
What’s new in 2024
- NEW dedicated strand for schools, for teachers entering with their pupils – after its inaugural edition last year, the Schools Laureate Prize is back with a new category for primary pupils, new multimedia alternatives to the written commentary, and a new bank of suggested poems covering dozens of languages.
- NEW translation competition for teachers – Teachers at participating schools can now get creative with our free Teacher Laureate Prize!
- Celebrating Lusophone culture with the Portuguese Spotlight for translations of poetry from the Portuguese-speaking world.
- The Open category goes international For the second year running, we’re thrilled to extend the Open category to adults from all over the world.
Resources and inspiration
Are you an educator interested in using poetry translation in the classroom, or an adult entrant looking for some guidance about translating poetry? Read on for resources, as well as tips and inspiration from previous winners and former judges of the Stephen Spender Prize.
- Explore the Prize Resources hub and Resources homepage for a wealth of resources – from booklets of suggested poems to video tutorials, poetry workshop ideas, worksheets and more.
- Download the PDF resource for first-time entrants ‘Poetry Translation for Newcomers’
- Download the 2023 PDF booklet of winning entries
- Head over to the YouTube channel for a range of practical walkthroughs on translating poetry and to hear from previous Prize winners and commendees.
- More ideas for using translation with children and young people can be found on their Translators in Schools sub-site, and on the Modern Poetry in Translation websites.
- There is also a set of printable posters that can be downloaded at these links: Stephen Spender Prize 2024 poster (youth categories); Stephen Spender Prize 2024 poster (adult entries)
Schools Laureate Prize
The Schools Laureate Prize is designed for teachers submitting entries on behalf of their students. It is open to all schools in the UK and Ireland – including homework clubs, Saturday schools, private tutor groups and home-schools – and British schools overseas.
For each student, submit an English translation of a published poem from any language, together with either a written commentary (max. 300 words) or any one of the commentary alternatives. There are four age categories: KS1-2 (Primary: P1-7), KS3 (Secondary: S1-3), KS4 (Secondary: S4) and KS5 (Sixth form/Further education: S5-6).
The poems your students translate can be from any language, ancient or modern. All forms and genres are welcome, including texts from rap, spoken word and slam poetry and BSL. Students can work on their entries individually or collaboratively, as long as all contributors are credited on the submission form.
Click here for links to full details, a step-by-step guide on how to prepare and enter your students for the prize and links to suggested poems and other useful resources.
Teacher Laureate Prize
If you or your colleagues have entered students for the Schools Laureate Prize or Ukrainian Spotlight, our new Teacher Laureate Prize is for you! Submit an English translation of a published poem from any language, together with a commentary of no more than 300 words. The translation should be max. 60 lines (extracts are accepted) and in written form. Please read the full Terms and Conditions and FAQs before submitting.
The poem you translate can be from any language, ancient or modern. All forms and genres are welcome, including texts from rap, spoken word and slam poetry.
We also welcome translations from sign language. In this case, a link to a sign language video of the original poem should be submitted along with your written translation and commentary.
Click here for full details, FAQs and resources
Individual Youth Prize
For under 18s. The poem you translate can be from any language, ancient or modern, including British Sign Language. The prize celebrates poetry in all its forms and genres, so texts from rap, spoken word and slam poetry are very welcome. Poems should inspire you. Age categories for young people are 14-and-under, 16-and-under, and 18-and-under and entry is free.
Click here for full details and terms and conditions as well as lots of tips and advice on translating poetry, videos from previous winners, masterclasses on youtube and multilingual books of suggested poems.
Under 18s can also enter the Ukrainian Spotlight prize, open to all young people in the UK and Ireland.
Portuguese Spotlight
The Portuguese Spotlight is a special strand of the Stephen Spender Prize, open to young people in the UK and Ireland and pupils at British Schools overseas. Entries can be submitted individually by young people (or a parent or guardian), or by teachers submitting on behalf of their students. The competition is free to enter.
Translate one or more poems from the specially curated selection in the Portuguese Spotlight Booklet, and submit either a short written commentary (max. 300 words) or any one of the commentary alternatives.
There are three categories: KS1-2 (Primary: P1-7), KS3-4 (Secondary: S1-4) and KS5 (Sixth form/Further education: S5-6).
Click here for full details and resources
Open Prize
Adults (19+) from anywhere in the world can submit an English translation of a poem in any language (including British Sign Language) with a commentary of up to 300 words. Click here for full details, terms and conditions and resources. Entries cost £10 and £5 for up to two more poem translations.