Forward Prizes Ceremony 2025
Discover the most vibrant and dynamic poetry published and performed in the UK this year at this shortlist reading and the announcement of the prize winners.
20 poets take the mic and perform their work, delivering the perfect mix-tape of poetry. This one-night event showcases the breadth and richness of poets publishing and performing in the UK and Ireland today.
The shortlisted line-up is curated by a judging panel chaired by award-winning novelist and short story writer Sarah Hall, and critically acclaimed poets Hannah Lavery, Lisa Kelly, Sean O’Brien and Rommi Smith.
The Forward Prizes recognize achievement in four categories:
- Best Collection
- Jerwood Prize for Best First Collection
- Best Single Poem – Written
- Best Single Poem – Performed
This year’s judges read more than 214 poetry collections and watched or read 340 single poems to find the most exciting poetry published this year in the British Isles.
Need to know
This event is also available to watch online.
Reviews
‘The most coveted awards in British poetry.’ The Daily Telegraph
‘The works in contention address the world head-on’ The Guardian
Access
To book tickets for BSL interpretation, email [email protected] or call us on 020 3879 9555.
You can join our free Access Scheme through your online Southbank Centre account or via email.
Find out more about our Access Scheme
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For your visit
This event is held at the Queen Elizabeth Hall Southbank Centre
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is open from 90 minutes before events start until they finish. It’s closed at all other times.
Plan your visit
The Queen Elizabeth Hall is home to both our second-largest auditorium and the Purcell Room.
Getting here
Our address is Southbank Centre, Belvedere Road, London, SE1 8XX.
The nearest tube stations to us are Waterloo and Embankment; Waterloo is also the nearest train station. And more than 20 different London bus routes pass within 500 metres of our venues. More information on getting here by rail, road or river is available on our Getting here page.
We’re cash-free
Please note that we’re unable to accept cash payments across our venues.
Access
We’re working hard to remove barriers, so that our facilities and events can be accessible to as many people as possible.
All help points, toilets, performance and exhibition spaces at the Southbank Centre are accessible to all, as are the cafes, bars and restaurants. We also have excellent public transport links with step-free access.
All information about booking wheelchair spaces, step-free access, blue badge parking, access maps and guides and other help available whilst you’re here, including details about our Access Scheme, can be found on our Access page.
Food & drink
From coffee to cocktails, filling favourites to fine dining, plus some of London’s best street food – it’s all here at the Southbank Centre.