The Forward Prizes 2026 shortlists have been announced, and we're delighted to be the official Forward Prizes online partner booksellers once again with a special bundle offer on all 10 shortlisted books. Huge congratulations to all the shortlisted poets!
The Forward Prize for Best Collection
Egrets, While War by Tishani Doshi (Bloodaxe Books)
Foretokens by Sarah Howe (Chatto & Windus)
Hide Me Under the Blood and I Shall Be Satisfied by Keith Jarrett (Bad Betty Press)
Unsafe by Karen McCarthy Woolf (Bloomsbury Publishing)
Bycatch by Caroline Smith (Nine Arches Press)
The Jerwood Prize for Best First Collection
Sculling by Sophie Dumont (Corsair)
Even the Trees by Roshni Gallagher (Bloodaxe Books)
Ground Provisions by Shauna M. Morgan (Peepal Tree Press)
The Way the Water Held Me by Catherine Redford (The Emma Press)
October by Nur Turkmani (Hajar Press)
The Forward Prize for Best Single Poem – Written
'The Fear' by Tara Bergin
'Portrait of My Daughter as Postmortem with Needle' by Kizziah Burton
'Madam Gout' by Alexandra Corrin-Tachibana
'Absence has a grammar' by Fiona Larkin
'night guard' by Riwa Saab
The Forward Prize for Best Single Poem - Performed
'Frozen Fruit' by Ellie Rose Amit
'To the One Who Holds the Maxim Gun' by Francis-Xavier Mukiibi
'Diamonds' by Takunda Muzondiwa
'When I Give Up My Seat For You' by Maureen Onwunali
'Dumbarton East' by Biff Smith
The Forward Bundle is available to order at £110 for non-members (RRP £124) and only £82.50 for members. The price includes free UK postage, if you're based outside the UK please email us for an overseas postage quote. Please remember to enter your member discount code to claim the member price. This can be found in the online member area.
Click here to order the bundle, and here to browse this year's shortlisted books.
