The T. S. Eliot Prize is delighted to announce the thrilling 2016 Shortlist, featuring exciting newcomers and established names.

Judges Ruth Padel (Chair), Julia Copus and Alan Gillis have chosen the Shortlist from 138 books submitted by publishers:

Rachael Boast – Void Studies (Picador Poetry)

Vahni Capildeo – Measures of Expatriation (Carcanet Press)

Ian Duhig – The Blind Roadmaker (Picador Poetry)

J. O. Morgan – Interference Pattern (Cape Poetry)

Bernard O’Donoghue – The Seasons of Cullen Church (Faber & Faber)

Alice Oswald – Falling Awake (Cape Poetry)

Jacob Polley – Jackself (Picador Poetry)

Denise Riley – Say Something Back (Picador Poetry)

Ruby Robinson – Every Little Sound (Pavilion Poetry / Liverpool University Press)

Katharine Towers – The Remedies (Picador Poetry)

Chair Ruth Padel said:

One hallmark of poetry today is its variety. We read 138 collections, were blown away by the brilliance and freshness we found, and applaud the contribution of new and independent poetry publishers. There were many more outstanding books from small presses than we were able to accommodate in our final Shortlist. We were looking for musicality, originality, energy and craft, and we believe the Shortlist reflects this in a wonderful range of important and lasting voices.

The T. S. Eliot Foundation has taken over the running of the T. S. Eliot Prize following Inpress Books’s acquisition of the Poetry Book Society, the charity which established the Prize in 1993 and ran it for 23 years.

The T. S. Eliot Foundation will give the prize money and be the sole supporter of the Prize. This is the richest prize in British poetry, with the winning poet receiving a cheque for £20,000 and the shortlisted poets each receiving £1,500.

The T. S. Eliot Prize Shortlist Readings will take place on Sunday 15 January 2017 in Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall. The Readings are the largest annual poetry event in the UK and will be hosted once again by Ian McMillan.

The winner of the 2016 Prize will be announced at the Award Ceremony on Monday 16 January 2017, where the winning poet and the shortlisted poets will be presented with their cheques. This continues the tradition started by Mrs Valerie Eliot, who provided the prize money from the inception of the Prize.

Last year’s winner was Sarah Howe for her collection Loop of Jade (Chatto & Windus). The judges were Pascale Petit (Chair), Kei Miller and Ahren Warner.

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