Modern Language Poetry Live 2026 showcases London’s young linguists
St Mary’s University, Twickenham, welcomed 55 Year 8 students from 17 London schools for the sixth annual Modern Language Poetry Live on 17 June 2026 — an event that embodies the spirit of London: City of Languages by celebrating the capital’s remarkable linguistic diversity.
Designed for non‑native learners of French, German and Spanish, the competition encourages students to enjoy language learning, build confident pronunciation, and explore poetry from across cultures. The enthusiasm in the room was unmistakable: when finalists were asked whether they spoke an additional language beyond English, French, German or Spanish, almost every hand went up — a vivid reminder of the multilingual richness of London’s communities.
During the final, students performed a prepared poem on stage before tackling an unseen poem for the judges, who assessed pronunciation, fluency, clarity, accuracy and expressiveness. Performances were imaginative, bold and full of personality, with standards higher than ever.
2026 Gold Prize Winners
- French: Sofya (Lady Eleanor Holles School)
- German: June (Coombe Girls’ School)
- Spanish: Yusuf (Coombe Boys’ School)
The event was supported by colleagues and trainee teachers from St Mary’s School of Education, with expert judges from the Association for Language Learning. Professor Anthony McClaran, Vice‑Chancellor of St Mary’s, praised the competition for nurturing the linguistic and cultural skills young people need in an interconnected world.
For further information, contact Professor Anna Lise Gordon