International Poetry Events
A Poetry Kit guide to recurring poetry readings, spoken-word nights, open mics, slams and selected festivals in the UK and around the world. The emphasis is on events where poets can hear contemporary work, meet other writers and, wherever possible, take part.
Please check before travelling. Independent events change dates and venues. Follow the event link for the latest information. Where a fixed pattern is not confirmed, the listing says check datesť rather than guessing.
About this directory. This page covers Ireland, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Africa and Asia. Please check the organiser or venue link before travelling: independent events can change date, venue or admission arrangements at short notice.
Major rebuild: October 2026. The former separate regional pages have been consolidated, outdated entries removed, and current events and organisations added.
144 listings in this edition. Know a long-running poetry event that should be here, or spot a change? Please send the event name, town/city, usual date, venue and current web or social link to info@poetrykit.org.
Ireland
| Location | When | Event details |
|---|---|---|
| Cork | Second Monday monthly | Ó Bhéal go Béal Poetry films, Five Word Challenge, guest poets and open mic at the Hayloft Bar, Long Valley Bar, Winthrop Street. Poetry films from 7.30pm; main event 8.30pm. |
| Dublin | Regular programme — check dates | Poetry Ireland / Éigse Éireann National poetry organisation with a substantial current programme of readings, workshops, partnership events, slams and Poetry Day Ireland activity. |
| Dublin | Monthly — check dates | The Poetry Lobby Recurring Poetry Ireland partnership event bringing poets and audiences together; check the current Poetry Ireland calendar for the next session. |
| Galway | Annual — April | Cúirt International Festival of Literature One of Ireland’s longest-running literary festivals, founded with a poetry focus; current programmes include poetry sessions, readings, new voices and performance. |
| Waterford | Regular — check dates | SpeakEasy Poetry and open-mic event at Phil Grimes Pub. Featured poet and musician plus an open mic for poetry and prose writers of all levels. |
| Balbriggan, Co. Dublin | Occasional — check dates | Scéal Sessions Inclusive open-mic nights of poetry and music; recent editions presented with Poetry Ireland at The Warehouse, Vauxhall Street. |
| Ireland — nationwide | Annual — Poetry Day Ireland | Poetry Day Ireland National celebration with readings, open mics, workshops and community events across Ireland. |
Canada
Current Canadian poetry readings, spoken-word nights, slams and open mics. Events without a fixed monthly date are marked to check current dates.
| Location | When | Event details |
|---|---|---|
| Vancouver, Canada | Regular programme | Vancouver Poetry House Runs Vancouver Poetry Slam, Verses Festival of Words, Canadian Individual Poetry Slam and other spoken-word events. |
| Victoria, BC, Canada | 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thursdays, Sept–May | Victoria Poetry Project / Tongues of Fire Spoken-word open mics and poetry slams, generally at Caffè Fantastico, with sign-up before the show. |
| Calgary, Canada | Regular — check dates | Calgary Poetry Slam Established competitive spoken-word series at Dickens; doors 6.30pm and show 7.30pm on scheduled slam nights. |
| Edmonton, Canada | Annual plus recurring series | Edmonton Poetry Festival Annual festival and partner events; the local Haven Reading Series includes featured poets followed by open mic. |
| London, Ontario, Canada | Seasonal reading series | Antler River Poetry Long-running reading organisation (formerly Poetry London) featuring nationally acclaimed and local poets; 2026–27 season underway. |
| Toronto, Canada | Annual / recurring slam | Toronto Poetry Slam Long-running slam and open-mic platform; a 2026 edition is part of Toronto International Festival of Authors on 30 October. |
| Toronto, Canada | Annual — autumn | Toronto International Festival of Authors Large international literary festival with readings, performances, masterclasses and poetry/slam programming. |
Europe
| Location | When | Event details |
|---|---|---|
| Paris, France | Every Thursday | Paris Lit Up Open Mic Long-running multilingual open mic at Culture Rapide, 103 rue Julien Lacroix. Sign-up from 8pm; all languages and experience levels welcome. |
| Rotterdam, Netherlands | Annual — early June | Poetry International Festival Major international poetry festival; the 2026 edition ran 4–7 June and the 2027 edition is scheduled for 3–6 June. |
| Amsterdam / Netherlands | Regular programme | Poetry Circle Active Dutch spoken-word network with performances, workshops and events in Amsterdam and other cities. |
| Prague, Czechia | Regular — check current programme | Prague poetry and spoken-word scene The older Poetry Kit page listed the Alchemy series; use current local programme information before travelling, as venues and series have changed. |
Australia
| Location | When | Event details |
|---|---|---|
| Perth, WA | Every Saturday | Perth Poetry Club Weekly spoken-word show at The Moon Café, 323 William Street, Northbridge, usually with featured poets and open mike; many sessions also on Zoom. |
| Bankstown / Sydney, NSW | Monthly | Bankstown Poetry Slam One of Australia’s biggest monthly poetry slams, based at Bankstown Arts Centre, with workshops and featured poets. |
|
Australia nationwide | Annual season | Australian Poetry Slam National spoken-word competition with heats in more than 60 locations, state finals and a national final at Sydney Opera House. |
|
Australia nationwide | August | Red Room Poetry Month National poetry month with a public calendar of performances, open mics, slams, workshops and community-produced events. |
| Sydney, NSW | Annual — October | Australian Poetry Slam National Final National final bringing leading spoken-word performers to Sydney Opera House; 2026 final is 25 October. |
New Zealand
| Location | When | Event details |
|---|---|---|
| Auckland | Every Tuesday | Poetry Live! Auckland’s longest-running spoken-word open mic, now more than four decades old, at 39 Ponsonby Road. |
| Dunedin | Monthly — check dates | Poetry Open Mic at Inch Bar New monthly spoken open mic at Inch Bar, 8 Bank Street, Opoho; ten poets, two poems, organised by lowercase press. |
| Wellington | Regular — check dates | The Undercurrent Poetry Open Mic Public poetry open-mic evenings at The Undercurrent; readers register at the door and featured poets may follow. |
| Wellington | Annual — September / November | Verb Wellington & LitCrawl Wellington writers festival plus LitCrawl, with readings and live-literature events across the city. |
| New Zealand nationwide | Fourth Friday in August | National Poetry Day Nationwide celebration with poetry events ranging from readings and open mics to competitions and community activity. |
| New Zealand nationwide | Year-round | New Zealand Poetry Society National organisation supporting poets and poetry, with news, competitions, resources and links into the Aotearoa poetry community. |
Africa
| Location | When | Event details |
|---|---|---|
| Durban, South Africa | Annual — October | Poetry Africa Major international festival founded in 1996, combining readings, spoken word, open mics, slams, workshops and discussion. The 2026 edition hosts the World Poetry Slam Championship. |
| Lagos, Nigeria | Annual | Lagos International Poetry Festival Major African poetry festival with performances, workshops, development programmes and opportunities for emerging poets; 2026 is its 11th edition. |
| Accra, Ghana | Year-round / competition dates | Ehalakasa Ghanaian spoken-word organisation running slams, workshops and national programmes, including the SheShe Slam and National Grand Slam. |
| Nairobi, Kenya | Seasonal slams | Poetry Slam Africa Competitive spoken-word platform with preliminary rounds and Grand Slam progression; 2026 events include live Nairobi heats. |
| Africa — multiple countries | Year-round calendar | APVA Event Board African Poetry & Verbal Arts event listings covering slams, spoken-word performances, festivals and opportunities across the continent. |
Asia
| Location | When | Event details |
|---|---|---|
| India — multiple cities | Annual / seasonal | Spoken Fest Large multi-city spoken-word festival presented by Kommune, combining poetry, storytelling, performance and workshops; 2026–27 season announced. |
| Delhi / India | Year-round opportunities | Delhi Poetry Slam Poetry organisation supporting emerging poets through competitions, programmes and performance opportunities. |
| United Arab Emirates | Annual — check dates | Emirates Literature Festival Large international literary festival in Dubai with poetry, performance and writing events alongside its wider programme. |
| Hong Kong | Annual / programme dates | International Poetry Nights in Hong Kong International poetry programme bringing poets and translators together for readings and multilingual literary exchange; check current edition dates. |
| Singapore | Annual — check programme | Singapore Writers Festival Major Asian literary festival whose programme includes poetry, spoken word, readings and workshops. |