This week in our poetry news round up we look at the death of the writer Annie Dillard and the announcement of this year's National Book Award for Poetry longlist.
Annie Dillard Passes Away Aged 81
[caption id="attachment_20987" align="alignnone" width="676"] Annie Dillard during an interview at her home, January 24, 1983. (Bob Child / AP)[/caption]
Annie Dillard, the Pulitzer Prize-winning American writer whose very first published ...
This week in our poetry news round up we look at the death of the poet and feminist Robin Morgan and the announcement of the Poetry Foundation's 2026 Pegasus Awards.
Poet and Feminist Robin Morgan Dies Aged 85
[caption id="attachment_20945" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Photograph: Zuma Press Inc/Alamy[/caption]
Robin Morgan, the poet, essayist and editor who became one of the defining figures of second-wave feminism, has died at ...
This week in our poetry news round up we look at the death of the American poet, novelist and farmer Wendell Berry, and the return of one of the north of England's most unusual poetry festivals.
Poet and Farmer Wendell Berry Dies Aged 92
Wendell Berry, the Kentucky writer whose poems, novels and essays made the case for small farms, local communities and a ...
This week in our poetry news round up we look at the death of the singer and songwriter Dolly Parton, and the closing of Australia's Poetry Month.
Dolly Parton Passes Away Aged 80
Dolly Parton, the singer, songwriter and philanthropist whose songs became part of the furniture of the last six decades, has died at the age of 80. Her death was announced by ...
This week in our poetry news round up we look at the poetry taking place at the Edinburgh International Book Festival and the tenth anniversary line up for the BBC's Contains Strong Language festival.
Poetry Takes Centre Stage at the Edinburgh Book Festival
The Edinburgh International Book Festival is currently in full swing at the Edinburgh Futures Institute, where it runs until 30th August. ...
This week in our poetry news round up we look at the record-breaking year poetry is having in the bookshops and the winner of the Chair at this year's National Eisteddfod.
UK Poetry Sales on Course for a Record Year
Poetry is having a moment. Figures from the market researchers NielsenIQ show that poetry sales in the UK passed £8m during the first thirty ...
This week in our poetry news round up we look at the death of the Azerbaijani People's Poet Nariman Hasanzade and the publication of Claudia Rankine's long-awaited new book.
People's Poet of Azerbaijan Nariman Hasanzade Dies Aged 95
Nariman Alimammad oghlu Hasanzade, one of the leading figures of modern Azerbaijani literature, died on 1st August 2026 at the age of 95. He had been ...
This week in our poetry news round up we look at the death of the poet and translator Mary de Rachewiltz, keeper of Ezra Pound's legacy, and the announcement of the 2026 Booker Prize longlist.
Poet and Translator Mary de Rachewiltz Dies Aged 101
Mary de Rachewiltz, the Italian-American poet and translator who spent much of her long life as the custodian of her ...
This week in our poetry news round up we look at the death of the pioneering spoken word artist Black Ice and the newly announced poetry longlist for the 2026 Nigeria Prize for Literature.
Spoken Word Pioneer Black Ice Dies Aged 54
[caption id="attachment_20768" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Photo by Frank Micelotta/Getty Images[/caption]
Black Ice, the Philadelphia poet who did as much as anyone to carry spoken word ...
This week in our poetry news round up we look at the newly announced shortlists for the 2026 Forward Prizes for Poetry and the death of the poet and art critic Edward Lucie-Smith.
2026 Forward Prize Shortlists Announced
The shortlists for the 2026 Forward Prizes for Poetry were announced on Thursday July 16th, narrowing the field to twenty poets across the four categories. Founded in 1992 by William Sieghart, the Forward Prizes ...
