2026 Shortlist & Emerging Poet Prize Winners announced

PoetPoem
SHORTLIST
Anne Elveyfragments of peace & war
Es FoongOn Quitting
Jo GardinerHow to Light a Poem
Jonathan GreenhauseOur Suburban Homes Burn Down in Perfect Lines
Rachael Wenona GuyLittle Otik at St John of God
E. HikidaFront Row Seats
Wes LeeThe World, A Brief Dream Under A Summer Moon
EMERGING POET PRIZE
E. HikidaFront Row Seats
Diane RobinsonAtmosphere

Judges: Rose Lucas, Ali Whitelock and Angela Costi
First and Second Prize Winners and Highly Commended announced: 9 August 2026

First prize – $1,250
Second prize – $650

Poetry on Fire to be launched by Nathan Curnow: Poetry Zoom, 26 November 2026
Register here

Congratulations to the seven poets on the Shortlist 

The 2026 Liquid Amber Poetry Prize invited poets to respond to the broad theme of ‘poetry on fire’.

A massive shout out to the seven poets with poems in the Shortlist. In their poems they explore a  diverse range of themes on the motif – some flames are literal, some metaphoric – and speak their respective truths with directness and conviction.

And to our Emerging Poet Prize winners

As a keen supporter of the entire range of voices within the poetry community, Liquid Amber Press are also delighted to celebrate:

our two Emerging Poet winners
E.Hikida and Diane Robinson

The Emerging Poet Prize is an Editing Service Pack with Rose Lucas and Angela Costi

Poetry on Fire: The Liquid Amber Prize Anthology 

All the poems in the Longlist will be published in this year’s anthology (forthcoming 1 November, RRP $29.99). All poets in the anthology will receive a complimentary copy.

And a pre-publication offer is available in the shop now

Introducing the Liquid Amber range

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