Camp Bestival has announced a new poetry competition in collaboration with The Independent and Rough Trade Books. The Camp Bestival x Poetry Fruit Machine Competition is open to poets of all ages, with separate categories for under-10s, under-18s, and adults.
Entries will be judged by poet Ella Frears and The Independent’s Culture Editor, Jessie Thompson. Winners will have the opportunity to read their poems on The Library Stage at Camp Bestival on Saturday 1 August. Additionally, Frears will lead a poetry workshop using her Poetry Fruit Machine card game, which provides prompts to inspire creativity.
Three winners – one from each age category – will each receive a family weekend ticket to Camp Bestival, which takes place at Lulworth Castle in Dorset from Thursday 30 July to Sunday 2 August 2026.
To enter, participants must write a poem on the theme of a holiday, whether a memory, a future dream, or a surreal packing list. Submissions should be emailed to poetry@campbestival.net, including the poet’s name and age. The competition is open to UK and Ireland residents only, with entries closing at 23:59 on 5 June 2026. Prizes are non-transferable and non-refundable.
