We’re finding it hard to wait until January for the T. S. Eliot Prize Shortlist Readings at the Southbank’s Royal Festival Hall… so we thought we’d relive some of the previous events by asking those involved about their experiences.

Ian McMillan has been Master of Ceremonies at the Readings since the 2010 Prize. His freewheeling humour puts both the audience and performers at ease, while his introductions show the care and close critical attention he gives to every one of the poets and their work.

Almost my favourite moment in the T. S. Eliot Prize Shortlist Readings is the long walk each poet has to take from their seat on the front row at the Royal Festival Hall to the lectern in the middle of that vast stage. Some rush as though they’re trying to catch a bus. Some walk as though they have just heard bad news. Occasionally there is a swagger, sometimes a breezy confidence. There has never yet been a trip, although the possibility of a trip hangs over the evening. That walk is like the journey from a first draft to a finished poem, from an early pamphlet to a Collected Poems, and yes, maybe from a shortlist to a prize. Walk well, poets, and remember: the walk is only as long as you want it to be.

See and hear the Eliot Prize experience for yourself by booking now for the T. S. Eliot Prize Shortlist Readings 2025 at 7pm on Sunday 18 January 2026. The event will be British Sign Language (BSL) interpreted and includes live captioning. Tickets are available from the Southbank Centre’s website or by calling their box office on 020 3879 9555. You can also join us from the comfort of your own home via the live stream.