Hi everyone! Welcome to the Uplift Poetry events newsletter, featuring upcoming poetry events happening throughout Australia and online. Whether you’re looking to write, listen, learn, or perform, there’s plenty of events to check out. Scroll down to view our list of open mics, poetry slams, book launches, workshops, festivals and more.
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 newsletter and/or feature it on our social media.
Event highlights:
20 Aug, 6pm (+ more dates) at echo & bounce - SpeakEasy Poetry Open Mic
26 Aug, 6.30pm at Mirrorball Ministries - Australian Poetry Slam Brisbane Heat
27 Aug, 6pm at Books@Stones - Poets@Stones feat. Rae White, Angela Gardner & Nathan Shepherdson
3 Sept, 7pm at EvilCorp - Dark Poetry Night
Now until 31 Jan, 2027 at QUT Art Museum - Art Lab - Create a shape poem blackout poem
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Even more poetry events:
Alternator Poetry - last Thursday of the month at Dust Temple, Gold Coast
Avid Reader - book launches and events throughout the year in West End
Bards of Brisbane - open mic poetry nights in Redcliffe
Black Ink - ‘Magandjin based open mic centering black artists and providing a safe space for BIPOC artists’
Carindale’s Creative Writers group - at Carindale Library
Calanthe Collective - monthly poetry events at Tamborine Mountain
Captain Snips Collage Creations - monthly collage event at Lost Souls/Netherworld, Fortitude Valley
Dark Poetry Night - ‘A. R. Riley presents, in collaboration with EvilCorp, a poetry night to celebrate all that is dark and spooky.’
Echoes from the Cave open mic - poetry open mic on the first Tuesday of the month at the Cave Inn, Woolloongabba
Ekphrastic Writing Club - first Saturday of the month at Museum of Brisbane
Liquid Lyrics - ‘a spoken word poetry collective in Coolum’
No Phones, No Phascists - Monthly Friday evening counter-cultural convergence in Holland Park West
North Pine Bush Poets and Bribie Island Bush Poets - ‘a collective of individuals united by a common love for the art of Contemporary Australian Bush Poetry’
Poets@Stones - ‘boutique monthly poetry series’ on the last Thursday of the month at Books@Stones, Stones Corner
Poets on Saturday – poetry and spoken word event on the third Saturday of the month 10.30am at Wynnum Library
QUT Literary Salon - salon reading events every month
Queensland Writers Centre - poetry and writing events throughout the year
Red Light Poetry - open mic poetry every month at Prince Poetry Beat, Gold Coast
Ruckus Poetry Slam - last Wednesday of the month at Mirrorball Ministries, West End
Scribblers on Sunday - writing group on the second Sunday of the month at Carindale Library
Semiprose - monthly writing group at Lost Souls/Netherworld, Fortitude Valley
SpeakEasy Poetry - poetry events organisation run by local poet Nikita Kostaschuk / ink.eyta / at echo & bounce, Woolloongabba
Writers of Manly and Writing Mondays - writing events at Wynnum Library
Event highlights:
July - Aug - National Poetry Month - Red Room Poetry
July - Oct - Australian Poetry Slam
9 Sept, 9am AEST - Poetry Society of New York LGBTQIA+ Free Verse Workshop: Letter Writing in Poetry with Stacey Waite
9 Sept, 10am BST on Zoom - Seamus Heaney and Influences That Matter with John McAuliffe
22 Sept, 9am BST on Zoom - Come to a full start: Punctuating your *Poems* with Rishi Dastidar
1 Oct, 10am BST on Zoom - Poems Imagining Art: Exploring Notional Ekphrasis with Paul Hetherington
7 Oct, 9am AEST - Poetry Society of New York BIPOC Free Verse Workshop: Getting the Right Angle for BIPOC Writers with Taylor Byas
11 Oct, 9.30am BST on Zoom - Ginsberg’s Place and Politics, a poetry masterclass with Alan Fyfe
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Even more poetry events:
Australian Poetry Slam - nation-wide slam poetry program running heats from June-Sept each year, run by the not-for-profit organization Word Travels
Events on The Verandah with Cath Drake - masterclasses and workshops throughout the year via Zoom
Girls On Key Poetry - events held throughout the year
Perth Poetry Club - events throughout the year in Northbridge and on Zoom
Poetry+ Events Online - Facebook group for online poetry events
Poetry Lovers Perth - Online Poetry Feedback Workshops with Jake Dennis - second Sunday of the month 1-3pm AWST
Poetry Society of New York - non-profit hosting online workshops
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
Event highlights:
23 Aug, 1.30pm at Ivanhoe Library and Cultural Hub - Rising Voices Workshop: Poet Up!
26 Aug, 6.30pm at Northcote Library - Poetry Pops Multilingual Workshop – poetry in your mother language
30 Aug, 1.30pm at Daylesford Hotel - Poetry and the Dream Imagination with Liquid Amber Press
24 Sept, 6.30pm at Preston Library - Poetry Writing for Beginners
9 Oct, 7.30pm at Fairfield Uniting Church - Mother Tongue Poetry
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Even more poetry events:
Assorted Sporks - queer friendly poetry events Mamma Chen’s, Footscray
Ballarat Spoken Word (Facebook group) - events on the second Sunday of the month at The Crypt, Ballarat
Chamber Poets (Facebook group) - spoken word event on the second Saturday of the month in Woodend
Chaotic Musings - ‘a welcoming and community-driven poetry open mic for everyone’ held fortnightly in Fitzroy
Crockpot Poetry - (on hiatus) ‘a monthly poetry and spoken word night’ at Unassigned Gallery, Brunswick
Falling Awake Series - an occasional poetry reading series in naarm (melbourne), curated & hosted by Eartha Davis & Jaye Kranz
La Mama Poetica - poetry and spoken word events throughout the year at La Mama Theatre, Carlton
Last Outpost of Poetry - ‘weekly open mic poetry & spoken word event held in St Kilda’
lowercase poetry - (on hiatus) monthly poetry nights in Geelong
Melbourne Morphemes - (on hiatus) community poetry gig in Naarm
Melbourne Poetry - comprehensive calendar for poetry events in Melbourne
Mother Tongue - ‘a spoken word event for women’ at St Andrews Alphington / Fairfield Uniting Church
The Motley Open-Haus - free poetry open mic every Wednesday evening in Carlton
No Place Poetry - events throughout the year - currently on hiatus
Poetry at the Stingo - open mics every Saturday at the Yorkshire Stingo Hotel
Poetry Bauhaus - curated poetry and open mic at VRI Hall, Warragul
Poetry Unearthed open mic - at Cafe Gummi, Northcote
PoetiCas - ‘a monthly community poetry event’ in Castlemaine
Radio Laria Poetry - women’s poetry and stories on the second Thursday of the month at Black Spark, Northcote
Readings - bookshop hosting events across Melbourne
Roundtable Readings - public reading events in Naarm
Sick Leave - ‘a reading event series and small publisher in Naarm’
Sip & Share Speakeasy - spoken word events on the Mornington Peninsula
Slamalamadingdong - monthly poetry slams at Brunswick Ballroom
Slamtidote - Ethnic Queer Femme poetry collective
Spoken Word at Bar Oussou - spoken word event every Tuesday in Brunswick
Thin Red Lines - a quarterly curated poetry event in Naarm
To the Ends of the ‘Verse - event on the third Tuesday of the month at Cafe Gummo, Thornbury
Words Out Loud - (on hiatus) poetry and spoken word event on the third Thursday of the month at the Printers Room, Ballarat
Writing Days - workshops, readings and events in Coburg
Event highlights:
20 & 21 Aug at UNSW Canberra - Polar Imaginaries and Combative Poetics: Australia’s Literary Cold War
24 Aug, 7pm at Smith’s Alternative - That Poetry Thing feat. Morgan Bell and Fiona McIlroy
31 Aug, 7pm at Smith’s Alternative - Mother Tongue Multilingual Poetry
12 Sept, 12pm (+ more dates) at Tuggeranong Arts Centre, Greenway - Come Write @ TAC
19 Sept, 2pm at ACT Heritage Library, Fyshwick - Blak Writes with Jessika Spencer and Joyce Graham
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Even more poetry events:
Canberra Poetry Slam - monthly poetry slam events at Verity Lane Market
Poetic City Canberra - poetry festival, events, performances & workshops
That Poetry Thing - weekly Monday night poetry at Smith’s Alternative
Event highlights:
25 Aug, 6.30pm at Bankstown Arts Centre - Bankstown Poetry Slam feat. Hasib Hourani
27 Aug, 2pm at State Library of New South Wales - Luxuriating in Poetry with Evelyn Araluen
27 Aug, 6.30pm at State Library of New South Wales - National Poetry Month Gala
30 Aug, 2pm at Varuna, the National Writers’ House, Katoomba - Red Room Poetry Fellows Showcase
1 Oct, 5pm at The Lock-Up, Newcastle - Pocketbook Poetry Open Mic
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Even more poetry events:
Bankstown Poetry Slam - spoken word poetry on the last Tuesday of the month at Bankstown Arts Centre
Bread and Butter Poetry Slam - poetry slam on the first Thursday of the month in Camperdown
Enough Said Poetry Slam - poetry slam on the last Thursday of the month in Wollongong
Garden Lounge creative space - poetry open mic events in Newtown
Hush Poetry - Open mic poetry on the first Monday of the month at Casa Luna
Loose Leaf Literature - ‘a night to celebrate word art in all its forms’ on the last Monday of the month at Lazybones Bar, Marrickville.
Lucky Last Creative - Plated Poetry events at CeeCee Studios, Ultimo
Mudgee Readers’ Festival - events including Mudgee Poetry Slam and Mudgee Poetry Salon
Open Mic Poetry - weekly on Mondays at 8:52 Hong Kong Restaurant, Newtown
Plated Poetry by Lucky Last Creative - poetry writing and sharing in Ultimo
Poetica - ‘a gathering of poets, literary lovers, wordsmiths, singer-songwriters, artists, musicians and kindred folk’
Poetry @ The Petersham Bowlo - monthly poetry events at Petersham Bowling Club
Poetry Circle - monthly poetry group at Mudgee Library
Poetry Sydney - poetry events nurturing ‘innovation, discovery, and inspiration’ held throughout the year
Poets Out Loud - hosting slams, workshops and events in Northern Rivers region
Pride Poetry - queer poetry events on the Central Coast
Salt Water Poetry Slam - poetry slams in Wyong, Central Coast
Sappho Books, Cafe & Bar - poetry & open mic nights in Glebe
Society City - monthly poetry, zine & other events in Wollongong
Sydney Poetry Lounge - third Wednesday of the month at the Glebe Hotel
The Spoken Word Soirée - themed, inclusive open mic at Mullumbimby
WestWords - hosting in-person & online poetry events throughout the year, including workshops, open mics and WestWords Academy
Event highlights:
20-23 Aug - Red Dirt Poetry Festival including:
21 Aug, 8am at Olive Pink Botanic Garden - A Bird Came Down The Walk: Poetry Walk
22 Aug, 4pm at Shipping Container at the Gap View Hotel - Queer Vernacular with Hendri Yulius Wijaya
3 Sept, 6pm at The Roastery Cafe, Alice Springs - The Dirty Word
Now until - 14 Sept - NT Poetry Slam Hits the Highway – Tennant Creek, Katherine & Darwin
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Even more poetry events:
Centre Verse, Desert Voice - monthly poetry event in Mparntwe - currently on hiatus
The Dirty Word - ‘a poetic community in Alice Springs’
Northern Territory Writers Centre - various events throughout the year including NT Writers Festival and Write Away Writers Group
Red Dirt Poetry Festival - ‘a 4-day poetry and spoken word festival in Mparntwe/Alice Springs’
Wild Words - poetry and spoken word events in Darwin, with open mics on the last Sunday of every month
Event highlights:
24 Aug, 6.30pm at The Oak & Iron Tavern, Mount Barker - Open Mic Night
3 Sept, 6pm at Adelaide Arcade - Pink Shorts Press Spring 2026 Book Party
12 Sept, 2pm at Prospect Library - Meet the Author: David Brooks
17 Sept, 5pm at Woodcroft Library, Morphett Vale - 2026 Local Author Showcase
28 Sept, 7.30pm at Effective Living Centre - Poets’ Corner with Bruce Greenhalgh
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Even more poetry events:
Adelaide Poetry Gig Guide on Facebook
Draw Your (S)words - open mic poetry night at The Howling Owl, Kaurna Yarta
Effective Living Centre - Poets Corner & other various poetry and writing events throughout the year in Wayville
Ellipsis Poetry - ‘poetry events in Tarntanya, including a spoken word open mic on the second Thursday of the month’
Friendly Street Poets - monthly open mic on the first Friday of the month at Box Factory, Adelaide
No Wave Poetry - monthly poetry reading series at The Wheatsheaf Hotel
Rewind Poetry - poetry events at Rewind Studios
Spoke N Slurred by Paroxysm Press - events on the last Sunday of the month at A Social Undertaking
Spoken Words SA - poetry slam events throughout the year
Event highlights:
5 Sept (+ more dates), 10am at Huonville Library - Huon Valley writers group
11 Sept, 3.45pm at Hobart Library - Young writers club
11 Sept, 6.30pm at Kickstart Arts, New Town - Scream and Shout Poetry
9-11 Oct - Tasmanian Poetry Festival
16 Oct, 4.30pm at McHenry Distillery, Port Arthur - Hatching words through nature writing with Karen Knight
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Even more poetry events:
Fullers Bookshop - events held throughout the year in Hobart
Poetica Collective - spoken word and 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 - Northern Tasmanian-based poetry events
Tasmanian Poetry Festival - held annually since 1985
The Hobart Book Shop - events throughout the year
Women’s Poetry Oasis workshops - third Thursday of the month at State Library of Tasmania - contact Esther Ottaway (estherottaway@gmail.com)
Event highlights:
27-30 August - Perth Poetry Festival
12 Sept (+ more dates), 12.30pm at Ballajura Public Library - Swan & Scribble: Monthly Poetry Meetup
17 Sept, 7pm at The Kardy, Kardinya - Poetry at the Pub
19 Sept (+ more dates), 5pm at Lawson Flats - Ink & Echo: Monthly Poetry Meetup
23 Sept, 10am (+ more dates) at Fremantle Library - WA Poets Workshopping Group
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Even more poetry events:
Centre for Stories - poetry events throughout the year, including Ink & Echo: Monthly Poetry Meetup
Chilli Jam Open Mic - monthly event at Fremantle Fibonacci Centre
Monthly Poetry Writing Workshop - with Melissa Domiati at Kinky Lizard Espresso Bar, East Perth
Perth Poetry Club - every Saturday at The Moon, Northbridge and on Zoom
Perth Slam - monthly poetry slams at Rosemount Hotel, Boorloo/Perth
Perth Poetry Festival - performances, workshops and discussions
Poetry Club - monthly event at Victoria Park Library
Poetry Lovers Perth - Online Poetry Feedback Workshops with Jake Dennis - second Sunday of the month 1-3pm AWST
Swan & Scribble - monthly poetry meetup at Buallajura Public Library
The Marritree, Witchcliffe - various events including performance, book clubs, writers groups and workshops
Victoria Park Poetry Club - fourth Thursday of the month
WA Poets - various events, workshops and opportunities throughout the year
Writing WA - various events, workshops and opportunities throughout the year
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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.
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