Young poets and educators across the Caribbean have a new opportunity to put their voices on the page, as Macmillan Education Caribbean officially launches the second edition of its regional "New Branches" Poetry Competition — with an expanded format and a closing date timed to mark one of the world's most important celebrations of the written word.
The competition opened on June 8, 2026, building on the success of its inaugural edition last year and returning with a broadened scope designed to reach even more students and teachers throughout the region.
A Platform for Caribbean Voices
Organisers say the initiative is designed to promote creative expression, literacy, cultural identity, and a deeper appreciation for Language Arts among young people and educators across the Caribbean. Participants are invited to submit original poems inspired by themes rooted in Caribbean life and identity — among them life by the sea, festivals, Caribbean food and culture, island and community life, voices of the Caribbean, and journeys, roots and belonging.
New Upper Secondary Category Added
One of the most significant changes for 2026 is the addition of an Upper Secondary category, expanding participation beyond the Primary, Lower Secondary, and Teacher categories that defined the 2025 edition. The move broadens the competition's reach to older secondary students, giving more young Caribbean voices the chance to be heard.
Submission Guidelines
The guidelines have been updated to reflect the expanded format. Primary students must submit poems between 8 and 20 lines. Lower secondary, upper secondary, and teacher participants are required to submit poems between 10 and 25 lines. All entries must be original works.
The Judges
Entries will be assessed by a two-member judging panel comprising author and trainer Julia Sander, who returns from the inaugural edition, alongside Saint Lucian author and educator Mansha Hunte-Baptiste, who participated in Macmillan Education's recent Caribbean Author Academy.
Winners to Be Published
The incentives are as tangible as they are meaningful. Winning poems will be published in the 2026 edition of the "New Branches" poetry anthology, with winners also receiving printed copies of the publication — a lasting record of their creative achievement.
Deadline: World Literacy Day
The competition closes on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, in observance of World Literacy Day — a fitting tribute to the values of literacy, imagination, and cultural expression that the competition was designed to champion.
Students and teachers across Antigua and Barbuda and the wider Caribbean are encouraged to pick up their pens and enter. Full details and submission guidelines are available through Macmillan Education Caribbean.
