2026 Competition Launches.
The Transforming Words Foundation officially launched the Black in White Poetry Competition 2026 on Saturday, 21st March, during a vibrant online poetry workshop that brought together around 20 active participants from across the UK. In total, 29 people attended, including the facilitator and members of the TTWF team.
The workshop challenged attendees to think in new ways about how racism, unconscious bias and microaggressions shape everyday experiences. Participants wrote and shared powerful poems, setting an inspiring tone for this year’s competition.
This year’s launch captured exactly what the Black in White initiative stands for: creativity, courage, and the power of storytelling to build understanding and drive change. The Transforming Words Foundation looks forward to receiving this year’s submissions—and to amplifying voices that too often go unheard.
The 2026 competition invites poets to submit original work exploring one of two themes:
- Workplace racism
- Childhood racism
You could win one of our top cash prizes per category:
- 1st prize – £250
- 2nd prize – £125
- 3rd prize – £75
How to Enter
- Go to the Entry Form here.
- Pay £2 per poem and obtain an Entry Number (under 18s enter free).
- A unique Entry Number will be sent on completion of payment.
- Submit your poem using the link provided in the email that we will send you.
Entry Form →
£2 for each entry (under 18 free)