Fancy yourself a budding Byron or potential Plath in the making? Camp Bestival has announced the launch of a brand new poetry competition in association with The Independent and Rough Trade Books.

The Camp Bestival x Poetry Fruit Machine Competition is open to all ages and all the family. With help from special guest judges – poet Ella Frears and The Independent’s own Culture Editor, Jessie Thompson – the competition will invite the best poets to read their works on The Library Stage on Saturday 1 August.

With Frears, the winners will also be able to take part in a poetry workshop based on her Poetry Fruit Machine card game, which offers a deck full of prompts to really inspire you.

One winner will be selected for the following categories: under tens, under 18s and adults. The three winners will also receive a family weekend ticket to enjoy the festival, which takes place this year at Lulworth Castle in Dorset from Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August.

The theme for this year’s poetry competition is “holiday”.

To enter simply have a look at the poetry prompt below and email the festival with your poem, or a picture of your poem (If you are writing it PDF is fine) with your name and your age to poetry@campbestival.net

POETRY PROMPT:

Write a poem about a holiday… It could be a nice memory (at Camp Bestival or by the seaside, a golden evening, a delicious meal, adventure, camping in the rain or the sunshine, a holiday at home, in a field or abroad). The poem could use the language or tone of a holiday brochure, or contain a list of things to be packed – real, emotional, or surreal…

Good luck!

Terms: UK/IE residents only. Closes 23:59 on 05.06.26. Prizes are non-transferable and non-refundable. For full terms see here.