A buzzing crowd of excited poets, publishers, and fans descended on Leeds Playhouse last night for one of the most anticipated announcements of the poetry calendar. MCed by Joelle Taylor and featuring judges' commentary and performances from all 20 shortlisted poets, this lively and inspiring event included the inaugural winner of the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem - Performed, and culminated in the announcement of the prestigious Forward Prize for Best Collection.
We are thrilled to share all four winners of the Forward Prizes for Poetry with you now.
Winner of the Forward Prize for Best Collection
Jason Allen-Paisant, Self-Portrait as Othello
Winner of the Felix Dennis Prize for Best First Collection
Momtaza Mehri, Bad Diaspora Poems
Winner of the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem - Written
Malika Booker, 'Libation'
Winner of the Forward Prize for Best Single Poem - Performed
Bohdan Piasecki, 'Almost Certainly'
If you missed out on our Spring 2023 mailing, which included Jason's brilliant collection as Spring 2023 Choice, you can purchase it here. Momtaza's outstanding debut is available here, and of course both of these collections are still available as part of our Forward Prizes Bundle Offer, which is only £82.50 for members for all 10 books on the collection shortlists!
You can read work from all the shortlisted poets, including Malika and Bohdan's winning poems, in the Forward Prizes Ceremony Programme, here, and watch a performance of Bohdan's winning poem, 'Almost Certainly' below.