Pencerdd: Open for applications

Published Tue 16 Dec 2025 - By Literature Wales

We are pleased to announce the third year of the Pencerdd scheme, for Welsh-language poets to develop their cynganeddu poetic skills. Pencerdd is run in partnership between Literature Wales and Barddas, and both organisations are inviting poets to submit an application now.

Closing Date: 12:00pm midday, Wednesday 21 January 2026

The aim of the Pencerdd programme is to give a boost to poets who are relatively new to the cynganeddu tradition and nurture new voices and perspectives within the meter poetry in Wales.

Pencerdd is a year-long free programme, providing an opportunity for five poets who are relatively new to the cynghanedd tradition to hone their craft. As part of the programme, the poets will attend a residential course at Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre in March – April 2026 led by Mererid Hopwood and Tudur Dylan Jones, before being paired with a mentor for a year of one-to-one sessions. The cohort will also receive a series of digital workshops over the year of the scheme, as well as writing rooms to meet poets and share their journey to cynganeddu and create a supportive network.

In return for a place on the programme, Literature Wales and Barddas will ask the poets to advocate for cynghanedd within their own community at the end of the programme, be it a geographical town or village, or a virtual community of like-minded individuals. The poets are welcome to share their own ideas, or receive suggestions from Barddas and Literature Wales. Possible examples include running a workshop at a local young farmers club, hosting a stall at a Pride event, organising a Talwrn event, or publishing an article or blog to inspire other poets.

All applicants have until 21 January 2026 to apply for a place on the scheme. The programme is open to any poets over 18 years old who is relatively new to the craft of cynganeddu. You can learn more about the scheme on the Pencerdd page.

Leusa Llewelyn, Literature Wales’ Artistic Director, said: “It is a privilege to collaborate with Barddas again on a program to promote and develop the gynghanedd, and specifically to find new and diverse voices to nurture within this unique poetic tradition. Now in its third year, Pencerdd has already produced very interesting results with a new and enthusiastic generation of pioneers taking risks and starting to leave their mark. We look forward to keeping the group of five company as they embark on their journey.”
Jo Heyde, on behalf of Barddas, said: “It is so exciting that Barddas continues to collaborate with Literature Wales for the third year to run this very special scheme. This is a scheme that echoes the long-standing tradition of fostering an educational relationship between a poet and a poet’s pupil in order to maintain and support the art of cynghanedd.
“It offers the invaluable experience and special attention for new cynganeddwyr to refine their craft by working very closely with masters of the craft. The poets will be able to take advantage of the opportunity to develop their own unique voices and look to the future on how they will continue to sharpen their skills and contribute more widely to Cerdd Dafod.
“If you are interested in being part of the cohort of lucky poets in 2026, take the opportunity to answer the open call!”

This scheme is supported by the National Lottery through the Arts Council of Wales and Cronfa Elw Park-Jones.