Following the success of last year’s competition, in which over 25,000 pupils took part across the UK, we are delighted to launch the seventh edition of the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators.
The Prize returns in 2026-27 with an extended programme of webinars and a new home for over 130 resources on teaching creative translation from French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Russian and Spanish. On this page, teachers can find information that relates specifically to this year’s Prize, including our Guide for Teachers, all webinar registration details, and an introduction to the Anthea Bell Prize Resources Library.
Timeline
Below you will find the timeline for this year’s Prize, including dates and registration links for our webinar programme.
| Friday 18 September 2026 | Launch of the Anthea Bell Prize & New Poetry Resources Released |
| Wednesday 23 September 2026, 16:30 | Webinar I: Welcome & Overview |
| Early November 2026 | New Fiction Resources Released |
| Tuesday 3 November 2026, 16:30 | Webinar II: German Film Spotlight (register here) |
| Wednesday 25 November 2026, 16:30 | Webinar III: Russian Ab Initio Spotlight (register here) |
| Wednesday 9 December 2026, 16:30 | Webinar IV: Mandarin Spotlight (register here) |
| Early January 2027 | New Non-Fiction Resources Released |
| Wednesday 20 January 2027, 16:30 | Webinar V: Meet the Judges (register here) |
| Monday 25 January 2027 | Competition Opens |
| Wednesday 3 February 2027, 16:30 | Webinar VI: Competition Overview (register here) |
| Wednesday 3 March 2027, 16:30 | Webinar VII: Mid-Competition Q&A |
| Friday 19 March 2027 | Competition Closes |
| Early June 2027 | Competition Results Announced |
New Resources Library
Central to the Anthea Bell Prize are our resources for teaching creative translation of poetry, fiction and non-fiction from six languages. These resources can be used in the build-up to the competition and as a complement to curriculum teaching year-round. New to this year’s Prize is a dedicated Resources Library, which filters resources by topic, grammar, and curricula. All new and existing resources have been tagged by grammar content and examination themes in line with AQA, Edexcel, Scottish National Qualifications, and WJEC syllabi. The Library allows you to search and filter our resources for the first time, helping to identify materials that tie in with your teaching and interests. We have produced a written guide on using the library as well as a short video tutorial.
To access our free Resources Library, register for the Anthea Bell Prize via the button below.
Creative Translation and the Year Ahead
As we launch the Prize for 2026-27, we have offered below some food for thought from teachers and students on how creative translation, authentic texts and the Anthea Bell Prize can increase motivation, interest and uptake in languages.
Why Creative Translation?
In this video, Rochelle Marsh (Teacher of Spanish, French and German in Oxfordshire) shares how and why she has been using creative translation as a means of motivating and inspiring language learners in the Languages classroom.
Guest Blogs on the Anthea Bell Prize
The blog posts below offer three unique perspectives on creative translation and the use of authentic literature in the classroom. For more on the ‘Creative Translation and Modern Languages Today’ series, visit our Advocacy and Research page.
The science and art of translation: Tips to get the best out of the Anthea Bell Prize for Young Translators
Guest blog by Sophie Bailey (2026)
Teach Like a Linguist: teachers’ creativity in the Languages classroom
Guest blog by Dr Catherine Ames (2026)
Creative Translation and Authentic Texts – What, Where, Why?
Guest blog by Jessica Rainey (2026)
