22nd June, 2026

Bethany Handley wins Eric Gregory Award

We’re delighted to share that Bethany Handley has won an Eric Gregory Award for her poetry pamphlet Cling Film, a prize awarded to outstanding collections by poets under 30.

Bethany is one of five 2026 winners for the prize which is administered by the Society of Authors. The awards were founded in 1960 by the late Dr Eric Gregory for the encouragement of young poets.

Speaking on this year’s winners, judge Jasmine Gardosi said: ‘Judging the Eric Gregory Awards this year has both sent me to other worlds and pulled me deeper into this one. We have read voices that range from snappy and lucid, to sparse and desolate, to mystical and fae-like in its lyricism. What has been consistent is the ability of each winner to make me pause at a line, to take a break in the middle of a poem, to mutter “wow” under my breath. I have been impressed by the risk-taking, the world-building, and the deftness with which these writers have done two things, at the same time: tell a story through their collection, and also hit the mark with each of their poems. Whether it be on trauma, on truth, on family, freedom, or loneliness – the writing of every single winner has hacked into my mind, and changed it.’

You can view the full list of winners on the Society of Authors website here.

Photo by Adrian Pope.