The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an annual prize for unpublished poems written by adults for children aged 7-11.
About The Caterpillar Poetry Prize 2026
The Caterpillar Poetry Prize is an annual prize for unpublished poems written by adults for children aged 7-11. Every year since 2015, The Caterpillar Poetry Prize has been awarded to a single poem by a single judge among them John Hegley, Chrissie Gittins, Roger McGough, Michael Morpurgo & Michael Rosen.
Prizes for the Caterpillar Poetry Prize
- 1st prize €1,000 plus a week at The Moth Retreat in Ireland
- 2nd prize €500
- 3rd prize €250
The winning poems will be published in the Irish Times online.
Submission Guidelines for the Caterpillar Poetry Prize
The Prize is open to anyone (over 16), as long as the work is original and previously unpublished.
The poems can be on any subject.
The entry fee is €16 per poem. You can ENTER ONLINE or send your poem(s) along with a cheque or postal order (Irish only) made payable to 'The Moth Magazine Ltd. with an ENTRY FORM or a cover letter with your name and contact details and the title of your poem(s) attached to: The Caterpillar, Ardan Grange, Milltown, Belturbet, Co. Cavan, Ireland H14 K768.
**If you are concerned about formatting online, please go through the online process and then email your poem as a Word attachment with your entry number directly to enquiries@thecaterpillarmagazine.com.**
Please remember to READ THE RULES of the competition before you enter.
CLOSING DATE 31 MARCH 2026
The winners will be announced in June 2026.
The official information page.

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