About the Student Poetry Competition 2026
The Student Poetry Competition is presented by Independent Schools Victoria, as part of its Arts Learning program.
Now in its seventh year, the 2026 Student Poetry Competition is open to students from Foundation to Year 12 from any school across Victoria.
Poets can choose their own topic or explore our optional theme of Fruit. This year’s theme invites young poets to explore language through colour, texture, taste, memory and imagination, one juicy word at a time!
This year, we’re also introducing a new category: Ekphrastic Poetry. This form invites students to respond to a visual artwork or object, using it as a starting point for their poems. It encourages close observation and thoughtful interpretation, as students translate what they see into language. Rather than simply describing the artwork, students might imagine the story behind it, give voice to a subject or object, or explore the emotions, memories or ideas it suggests. Ekphrastic poetry offers a creative way to connect visual art and writing, supporting imagination, reflection and expressive language.
Submissions are now open and close on Friday 28 August 2026.
