We ❤️ our poetry tech installations at the SPL and we're chuffed to announce The Poetry Jukebox is coming! To be installed outside SPL and launched with an event on 4 Dec featuring: 🔊 Kathleen Jamie 🔊 Peter Mackay 🔊 Angeline King 🔊 Stephen Dornan 🔊 Maria McManus www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poetry-juk...

🖋️ Langside Library Poetry Project The exterior of Langside Library is to be transformed into a spectacular display of poetry. Submission prompts: The Battle of Langside Knowledge and Learning Community Access Mary, Queen of Scots Refuge / Haven opportunities.creativescotland.com/opportunity/...

LIBRARY VANS AND HIDDEN DOORS "Libraries are, of course, fantastic places to learn, to discover the world. But for me, personally, perhaps they are most exciting as places to hide." - Peter Mackay, Scotland's Makar, on a lifelong love of libraries www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2025/09/libr...

LIBRARY VANS AND HIDDEN DOORS "Libraries are, of course, fantastic places to learn, to discover the world. But for me, personally, perhaps they are most exciting as places to hide." - Peter Mackay, Scotland's Makar, on a lifelong love of libraries www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2025/09/libr...

Scotland’s Makar Peter Mackay is participating in a residency with Lorna Goodison, former poet laureate of Jamaica at Robert Burns Ellisland Museum and Farm in Dumfriesshire. Both poets will read at The Stove Network in Dumfries tomorrow (Tuesday) evening 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇯🇲

Scotland’s Makar Peter Mackay is participating in a residency with Lorna Goodison, former poet laureate of Jamaica at Robert Burns Ellisland Museum and Farm in Dumfriesshire. Both poets will read at The Stove Network in Dumfries tomorrow (Tuesday) evening 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇯🇲

#WritingCommunity! Submissions invited to NEW WRITING SCOTLAND 44! We want poetry & prose in English, #Gaelic, & #Scots from writers who are Scottish by residence, birth, or inclination. All successful contributors are paid – deadline 31 Oct! Submit free via Submittable 👇 nws.submittable.com/submit

Aye Write Festival line up anounced, which includes 5 poetry events www.glasgowlife.org.uk/whats-on/aye...

ESSAY 'Page Against The Machine: On the Poetics of AI Refusal' Pip Thornton asks if AI technologies will "disarm poetry and creative writing as tools of refusal." www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2025/09/page...

Congratulations, Cáit, on winning the McLellan Poetry Prize.

#ScottishPoetryEvents FRIDAY NIGHT REMEDY Fri 5th Sept Outer Spaces, Glasgow

It was our privilege to host the leadership announcement for the @scottishgreens.org this morning

WOMEN POETS WANTED For a new collection that "scans the breadth of lived experience across identities, cultures & generations reflecting the richness of women’s experiences today." Deadline: 12 Oct 25. For details/how to submit visit the RSF website: www.rebeccaswiftfoundation.org/anthology-of...

Rannan Chloinne / Children’s Verses Just 4 days left to enter the competition for new children's verses in Gaelic. This is a collaborative project by the Scottish Poetry Library and Gaelic Books Council. All the details here: www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/rannan-chloi...

4 fantastic poets reading at Ian Hamilton Finlay's Little Sparta on Sunday. Possibly the best location for poetry since the Ancient Agora of Athens. A special event organised by the SPL and Little Sparta Trust. Much thanks to Nazaret Ranea, Nasim Rebecca Asl, Janette Ayachi, Christopher Crawford.

Our friends at Scottish Poetry Library have this great wee Podcast featuring a real diversity of writers and work. Always well worth a listen! 📖🎤 #PoetryLovers #Poetry #CreativeWriting

Magical Mystery Tour to Little Sparta! Sun 24 Aug featuring K Patrick, Christopher Crawford, Nasim Rebecca Asl and Nazaret Ranea. Transport leaves Edinburgh at 11.30am from St Andrew's Square. Plenty of time to explore Little Sparta. Book Places Here: littlesparta.sumupstore.com/product/24-a...

🎙️ NEW SPL PODCAST! Samuel Tongue in conversation with Taylor Dyson, who was recently appointed as the Dundee and Angus Scots Scriever, based at the National Library of Scotland. Taylor is a Dundee based performance poet and theatre maker. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/samu...

One down, two to go... (this afternoon and tomorrow)

FLYTE NYTE! Wed 20 Aug @ EIBF 🥊 Joelle Taylor versus Hannah Lavery 🥊 🥊 Michael Mullen versus Ross McLeary 🥊 🥊 Bee Asha versus Kate Ireland 🥊 🥊 Amelia Baylor versus Darren Connell 🥊 Hosted by Leyla Josephine, Colin Bramwell, Iona Lee. www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

2026 NEW WRITERS AWARDS Applications for the 2026 New Writers Awards are currently open. The deadline for all applications is Wed 24 Sept 2025. The awards are free to apply to, all travel expenses are covered and awardees are chosen by a panel of judges. www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-...

Creative Balance is a new research project exploring mental health and wellbeing, and what improvements can be made for Black People and People of Colour in the Scottish creative industries. They've issued a call out for Black & POC artists to get in touch: www.creativebalance.scot

YOUNG MAKARS! The newest group of Scotland's Young Makars has just been announced. 🔥 Jack Jeffrey 🔥 Anousha Stroud-Graham 🔥 Lily Bell 🔥 Brooke Collins They'll be mentored by Victoria McNulty, Tom Murray, Janette Ayachi and Aoife Lyall. Story: www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/next-generat...

#ScottishPoetryEvents Open Mic at the Scottish Poetry Library! 1pm, 18th, 19th, 20th August FREE! All the deets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/poetry-ope...

Today and Thursday.

IRISH PAGES The current issue of Irish Pages edited by Kathleen Jamie & Don Paterson - the special Scotland edition the one that has generated much online debate - is available FREE in the Scottish Poetry Library. While stocks last. Form a disorderly queue, please.

NOTICE The Scottish Poetry Library will shut early on Thursday 7th August at 1.30pm for a private event. Monday morning, 10am ...

#ScottishPoetryEvents Competition judges Robert Crawford and Christine De Luca will present readings from the shortlist of 5 poets for the YOUNG RELIGIOUS POETS COMPETITION FINAL Date: Wed 13th Aug Venue: Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh www.edinburghsacredartsfestival.org/poetry-compe...

Today! Meet 11am at the SPL.

EMBRO Embro is a walk through the literary sights of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, with local poet Ken Cockburn. Meet at 11am at the SPL, 1-24 Aug on Tuesdays, Fridays, Sundays. Ken will lead a leisurely walk through the historic Old Town, performing poems en route by poets who once roamed the area.

#ScottishPoetryEvents The countdown to the start of Edinburgh International Book Festival is on. Running from 9-24 Aug there's plenty of poetry for everyone: whether readings from the page, performance, or with music. EIBF have helpfully listed them all here: www.edbookfest.co.uk/the-festival...

#ScottishPoetryEvents LOUD POETS FRINGE 2025 Venue: Scottish Storytelling Centre, Edinburgh Dates: 1st, 8th, 14th, 21st Aug Time: 8.30-9.45pm Tickets: scottishstorytellingcentre.online.red61.co.uk/event/913:61...

#ScottishPoetryEvents STANZALONE OPEN MIC Auchterarder Picture House Wed 30 July, 7pm

#ScottishPoetryEvents In Conversation with Scotland's Makar... Pàdraig MacAoidh (Peter Mackay). Fri 1st Aug, 12.15pm The Stand, Edinburgh www.thestand.co.uk/fringe/2587/...

There's always a plethora of #ScottishPoetryEvents in August. Happy to promote any and all of them on the SPL feed ... so long as events feature a collection of poets. (Think that's the official term for 3 or more poets although some would say "a gaggle" or "a gossip" are equally applicable).

Boxes of poetry books arrive at the SPL every week. A much anticipated poetry collection will be in today's delivery and reaching hands are at the ready... www.theguardian.com/books/2025/j...

The Dymphna Bursary is awarded annually to a poet resident in Scotland who identifies as neurodivergent or has a learning disability. The award will be £2000. Applications are open until Fri 15 Aug. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/dymphna-burs...

DECOLONISING MINDS Togetherness Poetry Challenge is an annual UK-wide challenge which this year invites you to write poems on the theme of 'Decolonising Minds and Shared Identities'. 1st Prize: £500 5 Runner Ups: £100. Closing date: 26 Sep 25 www.togethernesspoetrychallenge.org/2025-poetry-...

Nothing But The Poem – Mick Imlah In this podcast, @samueltongue.bsky.social & the @byleaveswelive.bsky.social Friends Group look at two poems by Mick Imlah – “Iona” & “London Scottish”. Both can be found on the SPL website. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/noth...

Nazaret Ranea writes of her journey from being one of the Scottish Poetry Library's Young Makars to having her first poetry collection published by Drunk Muse Press. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/2025/07/my-j...

Congrats to Glasgow-based poet Tim Tim Cheng for being shortlisted for the 2025 Forward Prize for Best Single Poem for their poem 'Girl Ghosts'. #ForwardPrizes #PoetryAwards

Big congrats to Glasgow-based poet Michael Mullen for being shortlisted for the 2025 Forward Prizes Best First Collection with his debut Goonie. #ForwardPrizes #BestFirstCollection #PoetryAwards

Congrats to the 5 poets on 2025 Forward Prize Best Collection shortlist. And what a great year for Scottish/Scottish-based poets. Filling over half the shortlist! That must be a first. Well done and good luck to Juana Adcock, Niall Campbell, Karen Solie. #ForwardPrizes #PoetryAward #BestCollection

THE OFFERING (A PLASTIC OCEAN ORATORIA) A vital post-apocalypse poetry / live music collaboration at Scottish Poetry Library on Thurs 24th August. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-offeri...

Pàdraig MacAoidh #Gàidhlig #Gaelic www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/rannan-chloi...

CALL OUT FOR SUBMISSIONS! Editors @cloudscholar.bsky.social, Lola Oh and @williekinard.com are looking forward to receiving your submissions for Magma 94: REMIX More info & to submit: magmapoetry.com/call-for-sub... Closing date: 31st July, 2025 Image: Williams Chechet

Tha sinn a’ sireadh bàrdachd Ghàidhlig ùr a tha ag amas air clann aig aois na bun-sgoile airson cruinneachadh ùr. Thèid £300 a phàigheadh ​​airson gach dàn a thèid a thaghadh. ’S e Pàdraig MacAoidh (Am Makar) an neach-deasachaidh. Fiosrachadh slàn: www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/rannan-chloi...

Congratulations to Vona Groarke from her Scottish friends at the SPL. Vona takes over from Paul Muldoon as the new Ireland Professor of Poetry. The post lasts for 3 years and is awarded to "a poet of honour and distinction". www.irishtimes.com/culture/book...

🎙️ NEW SPL PODCAST! In the new Nothing But The Poem podcast, our usual host Samuel Tongue takes a deep dive into two poems from Mick Imlah (1956-2009). The poems are 'Iona' and 'London Scottish'. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/podcast/noth...

The Dymphna Bursary is awarded annually to a poet resident in Scotland who identifies as neurodivergent or has a learning disability. The award will be £2000. Applications are open until Fri 15 Aug. www.scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk/dymphna-burs...