News | Covert Talent Development Programme 2025-26 Recipients

Feb 5, 2026

We are delighted to announce the writers selected to be part of the Covert Talent Development Programme 2025-26 cohort, thanks to the support from Arts Council England.

For this cohort, we selected 18 UK-based Black, Asian and ethnically diverse/BPOC writers for the chance to develop their writing practice. This year, we also offered a further group of up to eight writers the opportunity to participate in a writers’ group supported by a professional writer.

The theme for Covert Literary Magazine Issue 6 is Water/Water in People’s Lives. This issue is connected to our WOL @ Downs to the Sea programme, funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. For this issue, we welcome Guest Editors: Roy McFarlane FRSL, Fawzia Kane, Gemma Weekes, Remi Graves and Alinah Azadeh. The editorial team includes: Amy Z. Glass, Claire Jacobs, Zita Holbourne FRSA, Jackie Mendoza, and Pauline Rutter.

From January until April 2026, Guest Editors of Covert 6 will provide workshops and mentoring to the main cohort, starting with a masterclass session with Susmita Bhattacharya.

These sessions are also open to the public for those who want to develop their writing practice and apply to Covert 6. Find out more info on our What’s on page.

This year, we are introducing new writers’ groups for Covert Talent Development Programme cohort and to applicants who demonstrated potential. In this peer writers’ group, they will support and give feedback to each other, strengthening their work by working alongside other writers.

Submissions for Covert Issue 6 will be open to all BPOC writers in the spring. You can subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to receive our opportunities.

Introducing our 2025-26 Covert Talent Development Programme cohort

Daniella Fearon
Dionne Elizabeth
Erica Li
Eve Xin
Fimi
Hanifah
Jessica Olivia Neill
Joshua Omeke
LiSa LoRe
Lucy Sheen
Michelle Inniss
Nam Huh
Omikemi Bryan
Rachel Ayeh-Datey
Shona Raine
Si Long Chan
Síle Maguire
TAVIA