6The Poetry Kit

Poetry Festivals

A Poetry Kit guide to current poetry festivals, major poetry celebrations and selected literary festivals with substantial poetry programmes in the UK and around the world.

Expanded October 2026  87 current festivals and major poetry celebrations.

Please check before travelling. Festival dates, venues and programmes can change. Follow the festival link for the latest information. Poetry Kit gives priority to poetry-specific, independent, regional and international festivals; broader book festivals are included only where poetry has a meaningful presence.
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March April May June July August September October November

MARCH

DateFestivalPlaceDetails
12–14 MarLittfestUmeå, SwedenInternational literature festival with poetry
13–15 MarStAnzaSt Andrews, Scotland, UKScotland's international poetry festival
18–20 MarBeall Poetry FestivalWaco, Texas, USAThree-day contemporary poetry festival at Baylor University
24–30 MarVERSeFestOttawa, CanadaMultilingual poetry festival
9–31 MarPrintemps des PoètesFrance / ParisNational and international poetry celebration

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APRIL

DateFestivalPlaceDetails
10–11 AprGenoa International Poetry Festival — Wide Open WordsGenoa, ItalyInternational poetry festival
16–18 AprEuropean Poet of Freedom Literary FestivalGdańsk, PolandEuropean poetry and translation festival
16–19 AprLiterature & WineKrems, AustriaInternational literature festival with strong poetry programme
16–19 AprNew Orleans Poetry Festival & Small Press FairNew Orleans, Louisiana, USAPoetry festival, readings, workshops and small-press fair
17–26 AprLyra Bristol Poetry FestivalBristol, UKTen-day city poetry festival
22–25 AprPage Break International Poetry FestivalRiga, LatviaInternational poetry festival
23–26 AprRio Grande Valley International Poetry FestivalRio Grande Valley, Texas, USAReadings, workshops and registered-poet programme
25 AprFree Verse Poetry Book & Magazine FairLondon, UKIndependent poetry presses, magazines and readings
25 AprTerry Plunkett Maine Poetry FestivalAugusta, Maine, USAAnnual community poetry festival
25 AprTucson Poetry FestivalTucson, Arizona, USAFree workshops, readings and community open mic

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MAY

DateFestivalPlaceDetails
11–16 MayCork International Poetry FestivalCork, IrelandInternational readings, workshops and awards
12–17 MayAuckland Writers FestivalAuckland, New ZealandLarge literary festival with poetry programme
14–21 MayBarcelona PoesiaBarcelona, SpainMajor city poetry festival
15 May–14 JunPoesiefestival BerlinBerlin, GermanyLarge international poetry festival
1–3 MayLaunceston Poetry FestivalLaunceston, Cornwall, UKPoetry festival; successor to the Charles Causley Festival
1–3 MayStrokestown International Poetry FestivalStrokestown, Co. Roscommon, IrelandIreland's longest-running poetry festival; readings, launches, workshops and open mic
21–31 MayHay FestivalHay-on-Wye, Wales, UKMajor international literary festival with poetry
22–23 Mayvers vuur / fresh fireAntwerp, BelgiumContemporary international poetry festival
8–10 MayAberystwyth Poetry FestivalAberystwyth, Wales, UKBilingual festival of readings, workshops, music and collaboration

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JUNE

DateFestivalPlaceDetails
12–14 JunOslo International Poetry FestivalOslo, NorwayInternational poetry festival
17 Jun–4 JulEuropean Poetry FestivalLondon and other UK citiesFree collaborative, multilingual and experimental poetry festival
24–29 JunStruga Poetry EveningsStruga, North MacedoniaHistoric international poetry festival
26 Jun–5 JulLedbury Poetry FestivalLedbury, Herefordshire, UKMajor UK poetry festival
27 Jun–5 JulMiłosz FestivalKraków, PolandInternational poetry and literary festival
4–7 JunPoetry International Festival RotterdamRotterdam, NetherlandsInternational multilingual poetry festival; next edition 3–6 June 2027
Various datesSouth Downs Poetry FestivalSussex & Hampshire, UKDistributed poetry festival with readings, music and open mics

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JULY

DateFestivalPlaceDetails
16–19 JulSaskatchewan Festival of WordsMoose Jaw, CanadaLiterary festival with poetry and spoken-word events
17–25 JulVoix VivesSète, FranceMediterranean poetry festival
4–11 JulMedellín International Poetry FestivalMedellín, ColombiaMajor international public poetry festival
7–11 JulPenzance Literary FestivalPenzance, Cornwall, UKLiterary festival with poetry and performance
8–12 JulBradford Literature FestivalBradford, UKLiterary festival with substantial poetry strand
9–18 JulHausacher LeseLenzHausach, GermanyInternational literature festival including poetry

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AUGUST

DateFestivalPlaceDetails
13–16 AugSunshine Coast Festival of the Written ArtsSechelt, CanadaLiterary festival including poets and readings
16–19 AugMetamorphosis FestivalKraljevo, SerbiaInternational poetry/literature festival
19–23 AugPoetry MoonHelsinki, FinlandInternational poetry festival
25–29 AugMalta Mediterranean Literature FestivalMaltaMediterranean literature festival with strong poetry presence
28 AugNational Poetry Day AotearoaAcross New ZealandNationwide readings, workshops, open mics and poetry activity
Throughout AugPoetry MonthAcross AustraliaRed Room Poetry's national celebration of contemporary Australian poetry

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SEPTEMBER

DateFestivalPlaceDetails
10–20 SepHastings Book FestivalHastings, East Sussex, UKIndependent book festival with strong poetry/performance programme
11–14 SepSofia MetaphorsSofia, BulgariaInternational poetry festival
18–20 SepMorecambe Poetry FestivalMorecambe, Lancashire, UKIndependent poetry festival with readings and open mics
19 Sep–3 OctILFU / International Literature Festival UtrechtUtrecht, NetherlandsMajor literature festival rooted in the renowned Poetry Night
23–25 SepLitVestTimiș, RomaniaInternational literary festival with poetry
24–27 SepContains Strong LanguageSalford / MediaCity, UKBBC poetry, spoken-word and performance festival
24–27 SepDruskininkai Poetic FallDruskininkai, LithuaniaInternational poetry festival
24–27 SepTbilisi International Festival of LiteratureTbilisi, GeorgiaInternational literature festival with poetry
25 Sep–4 OctWigtown Book FestivalWigtown, Scotland, UKLiterary festival with poetry
25–27 SepWine Country Writers' FestivalKaleden, British Columbia, CanadaLiterary festival including poetry
26 SepThe MixTape Poetry FestivalWoolwich, London, UKIndependent open-mic and spoken-word communities, music and workshops
28 Sep–1 OctAthens World Poetry FestivalAthens, GreeceInternational poetry festival
4–6 SepYerevan Book FestYerevan, ArmeniaBook and literary festival including poetry

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OCTOBER

DateFestivalPlaceDetails
10 OctWinchester Poetry DayWinchester, Hampshire, UKWorkshops, readings, open mic and poetry prize ceremony
12–18 OctRed Line Book FestivalSouth Dublin County, IrelandBook festival with dedicated poetry strand
14–18 OctLitFestEdmonton, Alberta, CanadaLiterary festival with poetry and nonfiction programming
14–18 OctVictoria Festival of AuthorsVictoria, British Columbia, CanadaLiterary festival including poetry
15–17 OctDobunni Poetry FestivalStroud, Gloucestershire, UKInaugural festival celebrating West and South West poets and publishers
15–17 OctDodge Poetry FestivalNewark, New Jersey, USANorth America's largest poetry festival
16–18 OctCircling the SquareThurles, IrelandPoetry and music festival commemorating Dennis O'Driscoll
18–25 OctVancouver Writers FestVancouver, CanadaLarge writers festival featuring poets
1–4 OctKingston WritersFestKingston, Ontario, CanadaLiterary festival including poetry
22–25 OctOttawa International Writers FestivalOttawa, CanadaInternational writers festival including poetry
28 Oct–1 NovToronto International Festival of AuthorsToronto, CanadaMajor literary festival with poetry, performance and masterclasses
29 Oct–1 NovPrague MicrofestivalPrague, Czech RepublicInternational poetry and experimental literature festival
2–18 OctIlkley Literature FestivalIlkley, Yorkshire, UKLong-running literary festival with poetry
2–3 OctNewcastle Poetry FestivalGateshead / Newcastle, UKPoetry festival with readings, workshops and mentoring
2–4 OctBrooklyn Poets Poetry FestivalBrooklyn, New York, USAWorkshops, craft talks, panels and readings
3–4 OctWirral Poetry FestivalPort Sunlight, Wirral, UKCommunity poetry festival, slam, walks and readings
5–10 OctPoetry AfricaDurban, South Africa30th edition; international poetry festival and World Poetry Slam Championship host
5–11 OctHellbender Gathering of PoetsBlack Mountain, North Carolina, USANew home and name of the former Palm Beach Poetry Festival
9–11 OctMostra de Artes da PalavraOeiras, PortugalFestival of word arts and literature including poetry
9–18 OctCheltenham Literature FestivalCheltenham, UKMajor literary festival with poetry
9–25 OctManchester Literature FestivalManchester, UKLiterary festival with substantial poetry programming

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NOVEMBER

DateFestivalPlaceDetails
12–15 NovPush the Boat OutEdinburgh, Scotland, UKEdinburgh's international poetry festival
12–22 NovFolkestone Book FestivalFolkestone, Kent, UKLiterary festival with poetry and performance
13–15 NovSchamrock Festival of Women PoetsMunich, GermanyInternational festival dedicated to women poets; Vienna event follows in December
19–21 NovInternational Ars Poetica Poetry FestivalBratislava, SlovakiaInternational poetry festival
20–21 NovPoetas Festival MadridMadrid, SpainPoetry festival
4–8 NovDublin Book FestivalDublin, IrelandLiterary festival with poetry events
5–8 NovInternational Literary Festival — to the sea-girt shores of CyprusNicosia, CyprusInternational literature and poetry festival
5–8 NovPoetry in AldeburghAldeburgh, Suffolk, UKReadings, talks, workshops, performance and poetry in translation
5–8 NovWhistler Writers FestivalWhistler, British Columbia, CanadaLiterary festival including poetry
6–8 NovIstanbul Offline International Poetry FestivalIstanbul, TurkeyInternational poetry festival

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