170+ Upcoming Poetry Events
Check out poetry events happening near you!
This week’s newsletter is brimming with 170+ exciting upcoming poetry events.
Check out these book launches, open mics, poetry slams, workshops and more happening throughout Australia.
Don’t see your fave event or group listed? Leave us a comment below or send us an email (upliftpoetry@gmail.com), and we’ll include your event in our next newsletter and/or feature it on our social media.
Queensland
21 May, 6.30pm at Lefty’s Music Hall - Ruckus Poetry Slam
24 May, 2pm at Orleigh Park - Yaysayers Poetry: Poems at the Park
29 May, 6.30pm at Books@Stones - Poets@Stones: boutique monthly poetry series feat. Rob Morris, Susan Venz & Anne Elvey
3 June, 6pm at The Cave Inn - Echoes from the Cave Inn: Poetry & spoken word night
7 June, 2.30pm at Museum of Brisbane - Ekphrastic Writing Club
13 June, 6pm at echo&bounce - SpeakEasy Poetry Open Mic Vol. 5
5 July, 12pm at Jagera Arts Centre - Paperbark Zine Fair
8 July, 6:30pm at Rat Planet Studios - Poetry Open Mic Night
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Alternator Poetry - last Thursday of the month at Dust Temple
Avid Reader - book launches and events throughout the year
Black Ink - Meanjin based open mic for BIPOC artists
Carindale’s Creative Writers group - at Carindale Library
Calanthe Collective - regular poetry events at Tamborine Mountain
Captain Snips Collage Creations - monthly collage event at Netherworld
Echoes from the Cave open mic - first Tuesday of the month at the Cave Inn
Ekphrastic Writing Club - first Saturday of the month at Museum of Brisbane
Liquid Lyrics - spoken word poetry events in Coolum
North Pine Bush Poets and Bribie Island Bush Poets - various dates throughout the month
Poets@Stones - last Thursday of the month at Books@Stones, Stones Corner
Poets on Saturday – third Saturday of the month 10.30am at Wynnum Library
Poetry Writers Queensland - third Thursday of the month via Zoom - Contact Mike Gilmour, Coordinator - mgilmour92@gmail.com
QUT Galleries + Museums - Texta book club and other events
QUT Literary Salon - salon reading events every month
Queensland Writers Centre - writing events throughout the year
Red Light Poetry - Prince Poetry Beat every month at the Gold Coast
Ruckus Poetry Slam - last Wednesday of the month at Lefty’s Music Hall
Scribblers on Sunday - second Sunday of the month at Carindale Library
SpeakEasy Poetry - poetry events organisation run by local poet Nikita Kostaschuk / ink.eyta /
Wham! Bam! Cabaret Slam! - second Tuesday of the month at The Bearded Lady
Writers of Manly and Writing Mondays - writing events at Wynnum Library
Yaysayers Poetry - regular Poems in the Park events
Online & Australia-Wide
26 May, 6am AEST - Poetry Makes Us Brave: Six Poets Share Poems of Courage
7 June, 1pm AEST - Rabbit: A Nonfiction Poetry Workshop no. 2: Childhood, with Anders Villani
7 June, 7.30pm AEST - The Material Girl Online Poetry Workshop: Body/Image
16 June, 10am BST on Zoom - Writing the Sestina: A Troubadour's Form in Contemporary Hands with David Morley
22 June, 10am BST on Zoom - Balancing the Known with the Unknowable, Poetry Masterclass with John Glenday
22 June, 8pm AEST - Helios: a summer poetry workshop with Jo Bell
6 July, 10am BST on Zoom - Practising Poetic Metre
10 July, 7.30pm AEST - Liquid Amber Press: Zoom Poetry Reading feat. Anne Elvey, EA Gleeson & open mic
15 July, 10am BST on Zoom - Powering up your Poetic Sentences: Masterclass with Judith Beveridge
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Events on The Verandah with Cath Drake - events throughout the year via Zoom
Girls On Key Poetry - events throughout the year via Zoom
Haiku Feedback Workshops - last Sunday of the month on Zoom
Perth Poetry Club - events throughout the year on Zoom
Poetry+ Events Online - Facebook group for online poetry events
Poetry Writers Queensland - third Thursday of the month via Zoom - Contact Mike Gilmour, Coordinator - mgilmour92@gmail.com
Red Room Poetry - online and in-person events throughout the year
WestWords - in-person and online poetry events throughout the year, including workshops, open mics and WestWords Academy
Victoria
21 May & 4 June, 7pm at Vibe Union at Creatures of Habit, Fitzroy - Chaotic Musings: Poetry Open Mic
27 May, 6.30pm at Coburg Library - Angela Costi in-conversation
30 May, 8pm at Readings Carlton - Poetry Winter Warmers hosted by Tim Loveday
1 June, 1pm at Mamma Chen’s, Footscray - Assorted Sporks Embodied Poetry Workshop
12 June, 8pm at Northcote Uniting Church - launch of Corey Wakeling’s Uncle of Cats - a live sound event created in a game format by voices and instrumentalists, facilitated by Calum Wakeling
14 June, 12pm at Frankston Library - FrankTALK with Anne Elvey feat. Anne M Carson (emcee), Jen Compton, E A Gleeson, Angela Costi & Rose Lucas
14 June, 12.30pm at Inverleigh Public Hall - ZINEverleigh Poetry Workshop
27 June, 7.30pm at Kindred Studios, Yarraville - Q-Lit Festival: Adults-Only Cheeky Poetry
30 June, 6pm at Mamma Chen’s, Footscray - Assorted Sporks Performing Poetry to Music Workshop
11 July, 7.30pm at St Andrews Alphington / Fairfield Uniting Church - Mother Tongue Poetry feat. Shyaire Ganglani
17 July, 6pm at Readings Emporium - Joss: A History by Grace Yee book launch, launched by Nadia Rhook & Alison Wong, hosted by Tim Loveday, feat. Grace Yee, Ender Baskan, Shu-ling Chua, & Xiaole Zhan
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Assorted Sporks - queer friendly poetry & performance night - last Thursday of the month at Mamma Chen's
Ballarat Spoken Word - events throughout the year
Chamber Poets - spoken word, second Saturday of the month in Woodend
Chaotic Musings - fortnightly open showcase of spoken word, poetry & all other language arts in Fitzroy
Cherry Poets - events throughout the year
Crockpot Poetry - monthly poetry & spoken word night at Unassigned Gallery
La Mama Poetica - poetry events throughout the year
Last Outpost of Poetry - weekly poetry & spoken word open mic in St Kilda
lowercase poetry - monthly poetry nights in Geelong
Melbourne Morphemes - community poetry in Naarm
Melbourne Poetry - comprehensive calendar for poetry events in Melbourne
Mother Tongue - events throughout the year
The Motley Open-Haus - free poetry open mic every Wednesday evening
No Place Poetry - events throughout the year
Pizza Box Poetry - monthly open mic at Palling Bros Brewery
Poetry Bauhaus - Curated poetry & open mic at VRI Hall, Warragul
Poetryspective - monthly poetry in Footscray
PoetiCas - fourth Saturday of the month at the Northern Arts Hotel
Radio Laria Poetry - women’s poetry, first Wednesday of the month
Radio Talk: Poetry Open Mic - every fortnight in Fitzroy
Readings - bookshop hosting events across Melbourne
Roundtable Readings - events and submissions open throughout the year
Sip & Share Speakeasy - spoken word events on the Mornington Peninsula
Slamalamadingdong - monthly poetry slams at Brunswick Ballroom
Spoken Word at Bar Oussou - every Tuesday
Thin Red Lines - quarterly poetry events
To the Ends of the 'Verse - third Tuesday of the month in Northcote
Words Out Loud - poetry and spoken word events throughout the year
Writing Days - poetry events throughout the year
ACT
19 May, 7pm at Smith’s Alternative - That Poetry Thing: Recent Work Reading feat. Ross Donlon & James Lucas
26 May, 7pm at Smith’s Alternative - That Poetry Thing feat. Scott-Patrick Mitchell & a quite big open mic
29 May, 6.30pm at Verity Lane Market - Canberra Poetry Slam feat. Scott-Patrick Mitchell
9 June, 7pm at Smith’s Alternative - That Poetry Thing feat. Lizz Murphy & Ali Whitelock
16 June, 7pm at Smith’s Alternative - That Poetry Thing feat. Hangama Obaidullah & Hazel Hall
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Canberra Poetry Slam - monthly poetry slam events
Poetic City Canberra - poetry festival, events, performances & workshops
That Poetry Thing - weekly Monday night poetry at Smith’s Alternative
NSW
19 May, 10am at Mudgee Library - Poetry Circle
29 May, 6pm at WestWords Parramatta - How to Read a City, Your Last Resort
30 May, 6.30pm at Side Door Theatre, Wollongong - Enough Said Poetry Slam ft. Scott-Patrick Mitchell
5 June, 6.30pm at Better Read Than Dead - The Victoria Principle book launch with Michael Farrell, hosted by Astrid Lorange
12 June, 6pm at Staton Library - Poets @ Stanton for Pride Month with Anne-Marie Te Whiu & Hasib Hourani
12 June, 7pm at M-Arts Precinct, Murwillumbah - Poets Out Loud feat. Andrew Cox
14 June, 2pm at Lane Cover Library - Poetry Workshop with Judith Beveridge
16 June & 21 July, 10am at Mudgee Library - Poetry Circle
19 June, 6.30pm at Marrickville Library and Pavilion - Bread & Butter Poetry Slam
25 June, 6pm at Woollahra Library at Double Bay - Writing Workshop: Australian Poetry Slam Wordshop with Dai Moret
10 July, 6pm at Woollahra Gallery at Redleaf - Poetica Petit Poetry Night
2 Aug, 10am at Marrickville Town Hall - Other Worlds Zine Fair
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Bankstown Poetry Slam - spoken word poetry at Bankstown Arts Centre
Bread and Butter Poetry Slam - last Thursday of the month in Camperdown
Enough Said Poetry Slam - last Thursday of the month in Wollongong
Garden Lounge creative space - poetry events in Newtown
Loose Leaf Literature - monthly events supporting local creatives
Poetica Petit Poetry Night - monthly event at Woollahra Gallery, Redleaf, hosted by MC Miriam Hechtman
Poetry Circle - monthly poetry group at Mudgee Library
Poetry Sydney - poetry events throughout the year
Poets Out Loud - various slams & poetry courses throughout the year
Pride Poetry - queer poetry on the Central Coast
Quiet Readers by licensed poetics - quiet reading events in Camperdown
Sappho Books, Cafe & Bar - poetry & open mic nights throughout the year in Glebe, inc. AVANT GAGA
Society City - monthly poetry, zine & other events in Wollongong
Sydney Poetry Lounge - third Wednesday of the month at the Glebe Hotel
WestWords - in-person & online poetry events throughout the year, including workshops, open mics and WestWords Academy
Northern Territory
25 May, 1pm at Saltwater at Bundilla - Wild Words
25 May – 1 June - NT Writers Festival Retreat
29 May – 1 Jun at Olive Pink Botanic Gardens - NT Writers Festival
5 June, 3 July, 7 Aug & 4 Sept at the Roastery Cafe - The Dirty Word: poetry & spoken word open mic
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Centre Verse, Desert Voice - monthly poetry in Mparntwe
The Dirty Word - First Thursday of the month at the Roastery Cafe
Northern Territory Writers Centre - various events throughout the year
Red Dirt Poetry Festival - August 2026
Wild Words - open mic events on the last Sunday of the month in Darwin
South Australia
25 May, 12pm at Prince Albert Hotel Gawler - Plein Air Poetic Memoir with Shaine Melrose
25 May, 6pm at A Social Undertaking, Adelaide - Spoke N Slurred open mic
23 June, 7.30pm at Effective Living Centre - Poets' Corner with Jean McArthur & Linda Walker
13 July, 1pm at Bridgewater Arts Centre - Poetry in Motion: The Art of Slam
26 July, 10am at The Summit Community Centre - Writing Ourselves Home: The Poetry of Local Places
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Draw Your (S)words - spoken word events throughout the year
Effective Living Centre - Poets Corner & other various poetry and writing events throughout the year
Ellipsis Poetry - open mics held throughout the year
No Wave Poetry - monthly poetry reading series at The Wheatsheaf Hotel
Speak, Hear - poetry open mics at Wakanda Multicultural Bar
Spoken Words SA - various events throughout the year
Winter Words - poetry slams & events throughout May-August
Tasmania
19 May, 5.30pm at Fullers Bookshop, Hobart - Seasonal Poets
26 May, 10am - Creative Journalling at Burnie Library
1 June, 1pm at Cygnet - Tea Ceremony, Poetry + Community Dinner
25 June, 6pm at The Alabama Hotel, Hobart - Poetica Collective: Beneath The Surface
10-12 Oct at Queen Victoria Museum and Art Gallery - Tasmanian Poetry Festival
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Fullers Bookshop, Hobart - events throughout the year
Poetica Collective - spoken word & storytelling in Hobart
Poets Corner at Hobart Library - events held monthly
Poets Corner at Rosny Library - events held monthly
Silver Words Poetry - monthly events at Shambles Brewery, Hobart
Spill Poetry - poetry events throughout the year
The Hobart Book Shop - events throughout the year
Western Australia
22 May & 26 Jun, 5.45pm at Victoria Park Library - Poetry Club 2025
22 May, 6.30pm at Centre for Stories - Past & Parallel Lives: In Conversation with Kaya Ortiz and Ange Seen Yang
24 May & 21 Jun, 5pm at Centre for Stories - Ink & Echo: Monthly Poetry Meetup
31 May, 11am at Peter Cowan Writers Centre, Joondalup - Use of Imagery in Poetry with Kay Cairns
31 May, 4pm at The Ellington Jazz Club - Life Imitates: Open Mic Poetry Night
14 June & 12 July, 1pm at Ballajura Public Library - Swan & Scribble: Monthly Poetry Meetup
14 June & 19 July, 10am at Kinky Lizard Espresso Bar - Monthly Poetry Writing Workshop with Melissa Domiati
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Centre for Stories - poetry events throughout the year, including Ink & Echo: Monthly Poetry Meetup
Chilli Jam Open Mic - monthly event at Fremantle Fibonacci Centre
Ink & Echo - Monthly Poetry Meetup at Centre for Stories
Life Imitates - Open mic poetry night at The Ellington Jazz Club
Monthly Poetry Writing Workshop - with Melissa Domiati at Kinky Lizard Espresso Bar
Perth Poetry Club - every Saturday at The Moon, Northbridge & on Zoom
Perth Slam - monthly poetry slams at Rosemount Hotel
Poetry Lovers Perth - fortnightly workshops at Hillview Intercultural Community Centre
Swan & Scribble - Monthly poetry meetup at Buallajura Public Library
The Marritree, Witchcliffe - home to Witchy Words & Music, a monthly performance night, as well as book clubs, writers groups & workshops
Victoria Park Poetry Club - fourth Thursday of the month
WA Poets - various events & opportunities throughout the year
Writing WA - various events & opportunities throughout the year
Uplift is based on stolen lands in Meanjin/Magandjin, the lands of the Jagera and Turrbal people. Sovereignty was never ceded. This always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
If I lived in Australia, all I would do is travel around to these.