Story Week 2026
your national calendar broadcasting a collection of live lit experiences
9–25 October 2026
NSW Final – Australian Poetry Slam
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. Poets will bounce the spotlight off their chests. They will glow poems to ignite every mind in the room.
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Queensland Final – Australian Poetry Slam
Be spellbound by writers slamming live on the Queensland Multicultural Centre stage for a place in the 2026 APS National Final at Sydney Opera House on October 25th!
There will be tears and cheers as they electrify your imagination in this nation-wide search for the people’s poet.
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Rising Voices - A Fellowship Showcase Event by Mother Tongue Poetry
Story Week Amplifies: 2026 saw the inaugural run of the Rising Voices Fellowship to support a group of local poets and spoken word artists to deepen and expand their practice. Now, after 6 months of learning, exploring, and applying their skills they are ready to reveal what they have created, with poetry performances, and the launch of an anthology and a podcast.
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October Sydney Poetry Lounge - Luke Fischer & Jakob Ziguras wITH OPEN MIC
Story Week Amplifies: The October 2026 chapter of the Sydney Poetry Lounge, featuring poetry from Luke Fischer, Jakob Ziguras, an incredible open mic! Head upstairs at The Glebe Hotel for a night filled with powerful spoken word performances and heartfelt poetry.
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The First Ever HOBART POETRY CUP
Story Week Amplifies: Sixty seconds. One poem. What will you say? For more than four decades, the Launceston Poetry Cup has been one of Tasmania’s great poetry traditions. Now, after 42 years in Launceston, the Poetry Cup is heading south for the very first Hobart Poetry Cup.
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Evocation! A Poetry Soiree
Story Week Amplifies: Experience the four distinctive poetic voices of Ellen van Neerven, Luke Patterson, Ed Southorn and Adara Enthaler as they explore memory, imagination and the emotional power of language with Gabrielle Journey Jones.
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POETRY BREAKFAST– Ocean Mic Poets Slam!
Story Week Amplifies: Ocean Mic Poets presents their inaugural Poetry Slam! Join for a morning of slammed poetry with the usual slam rules except no randomly selected audience judges. This is an "anti-bell-curve scoring" Personal Best Poetry Slam in which YOU are the only judge of your performance. The winner will be your poetic heart and courage to share.
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National Final – Australian Poetry Slam
Two slam champions from every state and territory slam their poetry. Whittled down from heats in tiny towns and metro centres, the crowd now crowns our nation’s next 2026 Australian Poetry Slam (APS) Champion.
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Victoria Final – Australian Poetry Slam
Victorian poets from country towns and urban centres spark new dreams, clear out cobweb memes and offer audiences a sturdy branch with a clearer view of the cultural storm.
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Sydney Final – Australian Poetry Slam
The city’s top wordsmiths, elected by their communities in local heats, stanza and deliver for one night of roar, whisper and finger-snap action. Be spellbound by writers slamming live in this exclusive event.
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The Manager is Me
Story Week Amplifies: The Manager Is Me is a fierce, hilarious solo theatre work about identity erosion, invisible labour, and what it costs to keep the whole thing running. It’s the raw, unfiltered rage-monologue your group chat has been writing for years. Written & Performed by: Dayna Fallon (2025 Victorian State Poetry Slam Champion)