The 21^st annual Wigtown Poetry Prizes have been launched – with a panel of judges featuring leading lights in the world of Scottish poetry and literature. This year’s awards are all the more special as 2026 is the centenary of the birth of the celebrated Scottish poet Alastair Reid, to whose life and work one of the prizes is dedicated.

The prizes have become a renowned contribution to the world of poetry, attracting hundreds of high-quality entries from around the world.

A new judging panel is selected each year consisting of respected poets and language experts with a deep love and understanding of their field.

Ruth Padel

Judge of Wigtown International Poetry Prize and the Alastair Reid Pamphlet Prize

Ruth has written novels, non-fiction, and 13 poetry collections. Most recently Girl: ‘A spiritual quest through mythology, mysticism, European fairytale and “places I’ve found sacred in my life”, to articulate “the wonder … of being a girl” (Guardian). “Formally inventive, with dazzling control of the lyric line: just extraordinary” (Kim Moore). Ruth is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature and a Fellow of the Zoological Society of London, Professor Emerita of Poetry at King’s College London, and is trying to finish a non-fiction book on elephants.

Ruth said: "I'm thrilled and honoured to be judging, among the legendary Wigtown Poetry Prizes, the single poem International Prize, and also the Alastair Reid Pamphlet Prize in the centenary year of his birth. Poetry is now so wonderfully diverse, and there is such a high quality out there, so many different voices, tones and forms, I can't wait to get reading, see what arrives, and honour them." 

Niall O’Gallagher

Judge of Wigtown Scottish Gaelic Prize

Niall is the author of three collections of poetry and of the forthcoming verse-novella Litrichean Plàighe, all published by CLÀR. His selected poems, Fuaimean Gràidh / The Sounds of Love, was published by Francis Boutle in 2023. Niall is currently Gaelic Writer in Residence at the University of Edinburgh.

Niall said:“Tha duais bhiladhnail Bhaile na h-Ùige na cothrom cluas a chur ris na tha tachairt ann am bàrdachd Ghàidhlig na h-Alba. Is mi a tha dèanamh fiughair ri fios bho bhàird an latha an-diugh feuch càite a bheil an aire agus ciamar a chuireas iad saoibhreas a' chànain gu feum.”

Niall said: “The annual Wigtown Gaelic Poetry Prize is a chance to listen in to what's happening in Scottish Gaelic poetry. I'm looking forward to reading this year's entries to see what's captured the poets’ attention and how they use the copious resources that the language has to offer.”

Rab Wilson

Judge of Wigtown Scots Prize

Rab is a poet and writer from New Cumnock in Ayrshire. He is known for his use of the Scots language and for work rooted in place, landscape, and working-class culture. Writing primarily in Scots, his poetry explores themes of memory, community, environmental change and social justice, drawing on the rural and industrial histories of Scotland. He has been a Robert Burns Fellow and has translated major works into Scots, including The Ruba’iyat of Omar Khayyam. Rab has long been active in Scottish literary life through writing, performance, mentorship, cultural activism and garnering support for Scots as a living, literary language. In 2024, he received the Janet Paisley Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the Scots language.

Rab said: “Ah hae a lang and canty connection wi the Buiktoun, haein attended the verra first Wigtown Book Festival and attending the fest regularly fir mony years. In this past year we hae seen a resurgence and arguably a renaissance in the indigenous leids o Scotland wi the introduction o the Scottish Languages Bill bi the Scots Government.

“Throu ma wark wi the Scots Leid Associe and Lallans magazine ah ken first haund that there currently flourishes a braw and vieve scene o writers (in poetry and prose!) wha are keen tae scrieve in Scots, and interest in the leid hus ne'er bin stronger.

“The Wigtown competition aye attracts a rael heich staundart o wark frae contemporary Scots makars an ah'll be delychtit tae see virr an smeddum in evri line o their labours!”

Marjorie Lotfi

Judge of Dumfries and Galloway Fresh Voice Award

Marjorie is the author of The Wrong Person to Ask (Bloodaxe Books, 2023), which won the 2024 Forward Prize for Best First Collection and a James Berry Award. It was also shortlisted for the Saltire Prize for Best Book of Poetry and was a Poetry Book Society Special Commendation. Her second collection is forthcoming with Bloodaxe Books in 2027, and she is also working on a memoir about her childhood in revolutionary Iran and her family’s arrival in Ohio in 1979. 

Marjorie co-founded Open Book, a Scottish charity which runs over 1,000 shared reading and creative writing groups in community settings. She is a member of the Royal Literary Fund’s Writers Mosaic and also offers mentoring, workshops and writing retreats at Galloway House Estate, her home on the southwest coast of Scotland.

Marjorie said: “As someone who regularly works with writers working towards a first publication, I can't wait to read the new work from writers with a Dumfries and Galloway connection. I look forward to poring over the submissions.”

Each prize will be presented at an award ceremony at Wigtown Book Festival 2026, which takes place 25 September - 4 October.