NSW FINAL – AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM
WHERE: State Library of New South Wales – Mitchell Library, 1 Shakespeare Pl, Sydney NSW 2000
Entry via Macquarie St Building foyer, Macquarie St (see Google Maps location, here.).
COST: $20–$37
Start: 7 pm
Poets Run NSW!
Australian Poetry Slam (APS) empowers communities to do more than stream other people’s creativity. APS brings you writers from across NSW who do more than post platitudes with living room revolutionaries.
They shout: Drop the screen. Stop the scroll. Gather at your local slam. Celebrate ideas and imagination with real humans spilling live verses.
At the NSW Slam Final you’ll see at least one writer answer the call of a mic on a stand that’s been whispering their name since they were 12. Poets will bounce the spotlight off their chests. They will glow poems to ignite every mind in the room.
NSW poets from country towns and urban centres will carry you out to the tip of a sturdy branch to give you a clearer view of the cultural storm.
Word Travels, the non-profit organisation bringing you the Australian Poetry Slam (APS) since 2010, says, “Hey you! Ignore that wrinkled cushion begging your bum to curl into couch. Dive into writers slamming on the NSW State Library stage.”
You may be chosen as a judge, sending two word heroes to the 2026 APS National Final at Sydney Opera House on October 25th!
Slams are creative democratic forums. APS invites communities to annually elect a National Poetry Slambassador: A cathartic champion. A geiger counter clicking out the country’s true anthems.
National Slam-bassadors get $20k worth of publishing and gigs at Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, Singapore Writers Festival and more. Power to the poets!
HOST: DEFNE
MUSIC / DJ: Abe Irhia – DJ ABE
FEATURING: In Other Words and the Australian Poetry Slam 2026 NSW Finalists
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This Australian Poetry Slam event is presented by Word Travels.
Content Warning: Most Poetry Slams are all ages and some content may not be suitable for children. Performances may include strong language and / or adult themes.
Event times local time.
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This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Also supported by State Library NSW, Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and Byron Writers Festival.
APS 2026 NSW State Final artwork features performing writer DEFNE and performing writers In Other Words. Artwork design: APS 2026 artwork design: Rachel Stone Designs, DEFNE and Adara Enthaler. Concept: Miles Merrill and the Word Travels team. Poem excerpt in design: APS Champion 2025 – Arantza Garcia Ferrand.
Image of DEFNE in artwork – photo credit: DEFNE.
Image of In Other Words in artwork – photo credit: Light Navigating Studio.
Photo of DEFNE – photo credit: Jo Mills.
Photo of In Other Words – photo credit: Light Navigating Studio.
Photo of Abe Irhia – DJ ABE – photo credit: DefinitelyDefne Photography.
