Poetry Slam – Page 2 – AZpoetry.com

PHX Poetry Slam

PHX Poetry Slam hosted by B-Jam

April 17, 2026 | Meraki Kava Bar

Featuring Fera Florescence. A poet, a musician, a phenom!!!!

DJ Orbit Corbett will be in the house holding us down and we will have our co-host back, @instavalence

Show starts 7:30 pm sharp

The structure of the traditional poetry slam was started by construction worker and poet Marc Smith in 1986 at a reading series in a Chicago jazz club, according to the Academy of American Poets. The competition quickly spread across the country, finding a notable home in New York City.

Slams have been going on around Phoenix since the 1990s.

As writers and literary critics, we value freedom of speech and thus do not limit, moderate or otherwise censor any content, and so there is a blanket trigger warning for all events. However, we strive to create a constructive atmosphere of equality, sensitivity, and progress, one that encourages discussion and actively opposes marginalization of any persons or group. Our goal isn’t tolerance of diversity, but its empowerment and alliance.

Meraki Kava Bar is a part of the House of MK AZ. At House of MK AZ, we create sacred spaces — not just services. Every part of our collective, from herbal blends to yoga flows, designed to help you slow down, drop in, and reconnect.

Miami Loco Arts Festival

These poets and storytellers are scheduled to appear and share words at Miami Loco Arts & Music Festival 14.

KEN BOE
CLEOPACHE
PAUL MICHAEL DLOUHY
ATHENA FENIX (mexico)
DAN HOEN HULL
PAUL JONES
LOB
STEVEN E. (David) ALEXANDER McDONALD
AMY MacPHERSON
LOGAN PHILLIPS
LIBBY ROONEY
GARRETT SMITH

These poets and storytellers are scheduled to appear and share words at Miami Loco Arts & Music Festival 14.

Miami Loco Arts & Music Festival (14th Annual)

The Miami Loco Arts & Music Festival returns for its 14th year, transforming the heart of Miami, Arizona into a vibrant celebration of creativity, music, and community. This beloved annual event brings together artists, performers, and audiences from across the region for an unforgettable three-day experience—and best of all, it’s completely free to attend.

Presented by the Miami Arts Commission, a dedicated nonprofit organization, the festival has grown into one of the town’s signature cultural gatherings. From April 17–19, downtown Miami comes alive with five stages of entertainment, featuring live music, poetry, visual art, comedy, and immersive performances. Sullivan Street will be closed to traffic, allowing art and energy to flow through the streets and into local businesses.

Festival Highlights

Friday, April 17
The festival begins Friday afternoon as vendors and artists set up throughout downtown. Live music kicks off around 5:30 p.m., setting the tone for an evening of creative exploration. Highlights include a collaborative performance art showcase, a live poetry and DJ fusion set, improv theater, and a late-night comedy show.

Saturday, April 18
Saturday is a full day of art and sound, starting at 10 a.m. with live music beginning at noon. A centerpiece of the day is the Miami Loco Poetry Slam, hosted by Dan Hoen Hull, where poets compete for a $50 prize. The evening closes with the Loco Sonic Noise Revival, an experimental music showcase featuring seven boundary-pushing acts.

Sunday, April 19
Sunday opens with a community pancake breakfast at the Miami Senior Center, followed by a full day of performances and storytelling. Enjoy spoken word, literary readings, and immersive art experiences before the festival wraps up at 6 p.m.

Art, Music & Community

With over 45 bands and DJs performing throughout the weekend, the festival features talent from across Arizona—including Bisbee, Tucson, Flagstaff, Prescott, and Phoenix—as well as visiting artists from neighboring states.

Visual art is a major part of the experience, with exhibitions like “KAIROS: The Revealed Moment to Act Within the Sliding Door of Time” at Miami Art Works, along with pop-up galleries and installations throughout downtown.

From poetry slams and storytelling to artisan vendors and food trucks, Miami Loco offers something for every kind of creative spirit.

📅 April 17–19
📍 Miami, Arizona
🎟️ FREE Admission

For the full schedule and lineup, visit:
https://www.miamilocoartsfestival.com

Prescott Poetry Slam

Prescott Poetry Slam | Every Third Sunday of the Month at 208 N Marina Prescott, AZ.

Prescott Poetry Slam is a three round friendly competition judged by five randomly selected audience members. Poets will showcase the art of poetry in performance. Cash prizes awarded for first, second, and third place.

$10 cover

Body Slam Poetry

April 6th | Body Slam Poetry

Phoenix Quaker Meeting House

See a poetry slam using a unique head-to-head match format! The winner of each match is determined by audience applause, so be prepared to get rowdy for your favorite poets and poetry throughout this event! The poetry at this event is meant to be raw and performative in an intimate setting. Body Slam is hosted by Skyelyn Riggs-Davis at the PHX Quaker Meeting House. Doors open at 6:30pm. Admission is $10 at the door.

The PHX Quaker Meeting House is located at 1702 E Glendale Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85020.

Sedona Poetry Slam

April 4, 2026 | Mary D Fisher Theater

The Sedona Poetry Slam returns to the Mary D. Fisher Theatre in West Sedona for a poetry slam on Saturday, April 4. Admission is free to all, thanks to the sponsorship of the Northern Arizona Book Festival, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that holds the annual festival the weekend of April 12, 13 and 14, in Flagstaff.

April is also National Poetry Month, so the best way to support poetry is seeing a showcase of the best poets in Northern Arizona. Many of the competing poets from the Sedona Poetry Slam will be showcasing their work, along with Flagstaff Poetry Slam, which are both festival partners.

Audience members can expect everything from heartfelt confessions to biting political satire, as poets compete for cash prizes and a chance to represent Sedona at statewide competitions.

A poetry slam is like a series of high-energy, three-minute one-person plays, judged by the audience. Slam poetry is an art form that allows written page poets to share their work alongside theatrical performers, hip-hop artists and lyricists.

Poets come from as far away as Phoenix, Tucson, Prescott and Flagstaff, competing against local poets from Sedona and Cottonwood, college poets from Northern Arizona University and youth poets from Verde Valley high schools. All types of poetry are welcome on the stage, from street-wise hip-hop and narrative performance poems, to political rants and introspective confessionals. Any poem is a “slam” poem if performed in a competition. All poets get three minutes per round to entertain and inspire the audience with their creativity.

Anyone can sign up to compete in the slam for the $75 grand prize and $25 second-place prize. To compete in the slam, poets will need three original poems, each lasting no longer than three minutes. No props, costumes nor musical accompaniment are permitted. The poets are judged Olympics-style by five members of the audience selected at random at the beginning of the slam.

Email foxthepoet@yahoo.com to sign up early to compete or by the Friday before the slam, or sign up at the door the day of the slam. Poets who want to compete should purchase a ticket in case the roster is filled before they arrive.

For more information, visit sedonafilmfestival.com or foxthepoet.blogspot.com.

Flagslam

Flagslam | Flagstaff Bi-weekly Poetry Slam

April 8th, 2026 | Firecreek Coffee

$5 Cover | All-ages, Adult themes

April is National Poetry Month, and FlagSlam is going to be loaded with some incredible talent coming to northern Arizona. We are so excited to bring these poets to Flagstaff!

“Alone Featuring Company is just that… Through sharing their spoken word with the public, they hope to bring more company into their life. Through their personal stories, they hope to stitch a second tongue onto all those who have had their taken or silenced. We are not free, until freedom can be sung from the mouths of those commonly sown shut, through occupation and imperialism. “

“Derrick C. Brown is an award-winning poet, storyteller, comic and president of Write Bloody Publishing. His innovative fusion of poetry, romance and comedy earned Paste Magazine’s Comedy Album of the Year (2023). The New York Times praises his work as “a rekindling of faith in the weird, hilarious, shocking, beautiful power of words.” A former paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne, Brown has authored ten poetry collections and four children’s books, winning the Texas Book of the Year award for Poetry. He serves as the 2025/26 Poet Laureate of Los Feliz CA.”

As usual, our slam is an all ages, free speech event. Pay what you can. Doors at 7:30, show at 8 PM. Wednesday, April 8th. Firecreek Coffee, 22 E Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001.

This show will have limited sign-up slots to allow more time for our features. Cash prizes for first, second and third place sponsored by the Northern Arizona Book Festival (which is taking place that same week)!

The FlagSlam this volunteer-run endeavor serves as a community space to cherish transformative writing and performance. One of the oldest and most acclaimed poetry slam venues in the nation, FlagSlam hosts the longest-running poetry slam in Arizona.

Over 30 years later, the FlagSlam stage continues to convene a diversity of voices committed to exposing silenced narratives, courageous engagement with language and truth, and supporting one another along the way.

FlagSlam currently offers multi-genre open mics, competitive poetry slams, feature performances by traveling artists, and community writing workshops.

Ghost Poetry Show Poetry Slam

April 20, 2026 | The Rebel Lounge

15 poets compete in a poetry slam for cash prizes judged by 5 randomly selected audience members.

Through the competitive, high-energy environment of a “slam,” poets are encouraged to build both writing skills and confidence. Forget the old school idea of poetry open mics and academia. This event will make a ghost out of your grandfather’s poetry readings.

The Rebel Lounge is a live music venue located in Phoenix, Arizona. Housed in what used to be the home of The Mason Jar, Stephen Chilton of Psyko Steve Presents took over the building in 2015 to turn it into The Rebel Lounge.

To sign up to perform email us at GhostPoetryShow@gmail.com

Doors at 7:00PM | Show at 7:30PM

Advance Price: $10 + fees

Day Of Show Price: $12 + fees

21+

Ghost Poetry Show Poetry Slam

April 8, 2026 | The Rebel Lounge

15 poets compete in a poetry slam for cash prizes judged by 5 randomly selected audience members.

Through the competitive, high-energy environment of a “slam,” poets are encouraged to build both writing skills and confidence. Forget the old school idea of poetry open mics and academia. This event will make a ghost out of your grandfather’s poetry readings.

The Rebel Lounge is a live music venue located in Phoenix, Arizona. Housed in what used to be the home of The Mason Jar, Stephen Chilton of Psyko Steve Presents took over the building in 2015 to turn it into The Rebel Lounge.

To sign up to perform email us at GhostPoetryShow@gmail.com

Doors at 7:00PM | Show at 7:30PM

Advance Price: $10 + fees

Day Of Show Price: $12 + fees

21+

Prescott Poetry Slam

Prescott Poetry Slam | Every Third Sunday of the Month at 208 N Marina Prescott, AZ.

Prescott Poetry Slam is a three round friendly competition judged by five randomly selected audience members. Poets will showcase the art of poetry in performance. Cash prizes awarded for first, second, and third place.

$10 cover

Ghost Poetry Show Poetry Slam

March 23, 2026 | The Rebel Lounge

15 poets compete in a poetry slam for cash prizes judged by 5 randomly selected audience members.

Through the competitive, high-energy environment of a “slam,” poets are encouraged to build both writing skills and confidence. Forget the old school idea of poetry open mics and academia. This event will make a ghost out of your grandfather’s poetry readings.

The Rebel Lounge is a live music venue located in Phoenix, Arizona. Housed in what used to be the home of The Mason Jar, Stephen Chilton of Psyko Steve Presents took over the building in 2015 to turn it into The Rebel Lounge.

To sign up to perform email us at GhostPoetryShow@gmail.com

Doors at 7:00PM | Show at 7:30PM

Advance Price: $10 + fees

Day Of Show Price: $12 + fees

21+