The Poetry Slam is a Bellingen Readers & Writers Festival institution. It’s not only the first public event of the Festival, but the fastest to sell out!

Twenty poets have two minutes each to win your hearts and minds. You’ll laugh, cry, gasp, sigh. Judges selected from the audience will send ten lucky poets through to the second round to do it all again, and perhaps walk home with a major prize!

For the second year, the Poetry Slam’s sponsor is Bellingen Wellness. Their generous sponsorship is helping us to make the 2026 Bellingen Poetry Slam as fabulous as it always is, and we’re hugely grateful. Thanks to them, we have first and second prizes, and the coveted People’s Choice award.

If you’re feeling brave enough to perform, or you want to perform anyway, then good on you!

Performer Applications Open: 5 pm, 1 April 2026

Maybe this year, the winner could be you?