Commonwealth Poet Laureate
{{Short description|Honorary literary position conferred by the Commonwealth Foundation}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = Commonwealth Poet Laureate
| incumbent = Selina Tusitala Marsh
| image = Selina Tusitala Marsh wins Humanities Aronui Medal at 2019 Research Honours Aotearoa (cropped).jpg
| alt =
| imagecaption =
| incumbentsince = 30 June 2025
| style = Poet Laureate
| type = Honorary title
| appointer = Commonwealth Foundation
| termlength = Two years (inaugural)
| formation = 2025
| first = Selina Tusitala Marsh
}}
The Commonwealth Poet Laureate is an honorary position conferred by the Commonwealth Foundation. The role was established in 2025 to serve as a symbolic and cultural voice for poetry across the 56 member countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Purpose and duties
The role of the Commonwealth Poet Laureate is to connect the citizens of the Commonwealth through poetry, to compose and perform poems for significant Commonwealth occasions, such as Commonwealth Day or the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, and to advise the Commonwealth Foundation on its creative programmes.{{cite news |title=Commonwealth Laureate plans poetry for the people |url=https://www.samoaobserver.ws/category/samoa/115040 |work=Samoa Observer |date=6 July 2025 |access-date=7 July 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://commonwealthfoundation.com/poetlaureate2025/ |title=Selina Tusitala Marsh appointed the inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate |date=30 June 2025 |website=Commonwealth Foundation |access-date=7 July 2025}}
Inaugural laureate
{{main|Selina Tusitala Marsh}}
The first Commonwealth Poet Laureate, appointed in June 2025, is Selina Tusitala Marsh of New Zealand. Marsh previously served as New Zealand Poet Laureate from 2017 to 2019 and was commissioned to write a poem for Commonwealth Day in 2016 at Westminster Abbey.{{cite news |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/culture/360748792/new-zealander-named-first-commonwealth-poet-laureate |title=New Zealander named as first Commonwealth Poet Laureate |date=7 July 2025 |work=Stuff |access-date=7 July 2025}} Her term is scheduled to run to 31 May 2027.