18th May, 2026

Laura Wainwright shortlisted for Seamus Heaney Prize 2026

Congratulations to Laura Wainwright whose debut poetry collection The Storm’s Flora is on the shortlist for the Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize 2026.

Judged by Leontia Flynn, Nick Laird and Karen Solie she’s one of 5 shortlistees alongside Isabell Baafi, Dean Browne, Sasha Debvec-McKenny and Catherine-Esther Cowie. Speaking about this year’s prize, Leonita Flynn said: “As the world continues to experience political turbulence, The Seamus Heaney First Collection Poetry Prize allows us to get back in touch with the careful attention to language by which we might reset it.”

The winner will be announced during the Seamus Heaney Centre’s annual Poetry Summer School, at the Award Night readings in June 2026.

Our poets are on fire this year and we’re keeping our fingers crossed for all of them!