2026 Australian Poetry Slam SA Heat 3 guest performer – Katherine Sortini

Kathrine looks seriously cool in this pic, right? Well, that’s because she is!

Playwright, director, performer, poet and winner of the 2023 State Slam Final at Goodwood theatre, Kathrine Sortini can add Guest Performer at Heat Three of the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam competition to her impressive bio.

Katherine Sortini (she/they) is a queer, first-generation Italian-Australian theatre maker, writer and spoken word artist. She is the founder of award-winning independent theatre company Deus Ex Femina and Creative Director of Feast Festival.

In 2025, Katherine received the Ruby Award for the Frank Ford Young Achiever Award, recognising her contribution to … ... Read more ...

2026 Australian Poetry Slam – SA Heat 3

Saturday 15 August 2026
Doors open for sign-in: 6:30pm

Campbelltown Public Library
171 Montacute Rd, Newton, SA 5074

$15 to compete or listen
Click here to book.

Who will become our next Australian Poetry Slam Champion as audiences vote in events around the country? The prize? They tour Australasia sharing their creative thoughts and inspiring people everywhere to speak their own poetry.

Two poets chosen by the audience at each of our five South Australian heats will head to the SA Final. At the final, our winner and runner-up will be off to the Nationals at the Sydney Opera House!… ... Read more ...

SA Poetry Slam 2026 – Heat 2 continues the quality!

  • Heat 2 winners
  • Heat 2 winner – Lauren Ann
  • Heat 2 runner-up – Conor Brown
  • Bianca Polson
  • Bryan McQueen-Mason
  • Nadia Willison
  • Ben Adams
  • Tabitha Cwiek
  • John Willison
  • Suzi Hall
  • Bart Michael
  • Susan Brame
  • Pradyumna Kiran
  • Miles Falahey
  • Guest – Courtney Jaye
  • MC – Tracy McNally

SA Heat 2 of the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam saw another high-quality set of performances from our poets in front of an enthusiastic and supportive audience at Parks Library. The scoring was extremely close, made more so by many of the poets going over time and losing valuable points… Congratulations to winner Lauren Ann and … ... Read more ...

2026 Australian Poetry Slam SA Heat 2 special guest – Courtney Jaye

We are incredibly excited to introduce our guest performer for SA Heat 2 of the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam: Courtney Jaye.

Courtney Jaye is a Ngarrindjeri woman with Malaysian heritage who grew up all around Australia. She is currently living and working on Kaurna country, with her writing and reviews found in Kill Your Darlings, InReview, Sinister Wisdom, Splinter and Southerly. She writes in the hope that other generations can see themselves in literature.

Courtney performed at No Wave in July where she delivered a wonderful set of joyous poetry. She will be a perfect … ... Read more ...

SA Poetry Slam 2026 – Heat 1 blasts off!

  • Heat 1 winners
  • Heat 1 winner – Sarah Rowe
  • Heat 1 runner-up – Sahil Choujar
  • Tiahna Ludborzs
  • John Willison
  • Miles Falahey
  • Suzi Hall
  • John Thompson
  • Megan Ellis
  • Avalanche
  • Solar
  • Ben Adams
  • Bryan McQueen-Mason
  • Nikki Lovell
  • Jas
  • Tabitha
  • Salah Dannaoui
  • Brooklyn Saliba
  • Dmitri Akers
  • Stephanie Mylan
  • Aaron Woodford
  • Guest – Mei Szetu
  • Sacrifice – Matthew Pankhurst
  • MC – Tracy McNally
  • Volunteers – Jazz & Pam
  • Out of the hat
  • The Hat Hat
  • Clarissa – interpretative dance
  • Heat 1 audience

Heat 1 of the 2026 SA Poetry Slam went off with a blast at the State Library of South Australia: a packed … ... Read more ...

2026 Australian Poetry Slam – SA Heat 2

Saturday 1 August 2026
Doors open for sign-in: 6:30pm

Parks Library
46-48 Trafford Street, Angle Park, SA 5010

$15 to compete or listen
Click here to book.

Who will become our next Australian Poetry Slam Champion as audiences vote in events around the country? The prize? They tour Australasia sharing their creative thoughts and inspiring people everywhere to speak their own poetry.

Two poets chosen by the audience at each of our five South Australian heats will head to the SA Final. At the final, our winner and runner-up will be off to the Nationals at the Sydney Opera House!… ... Read more ...

Get ready for your slam – interview with 2025 Australian Poetry Slam winner, Arantza Garcia

Arantza Garcia performs at the SA Final of the 2025 Australian Poetry Slam

With the South Australian heats of the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam starting up soon, you might be wondering what it takes to do well in a poetry slam. If so, have a listen to Arantza Garcia, winner of the 2025 Australian Poetry Slam.

Arantza Garcia is an emerging Peruvian writer and member of the Latin American Community on Kaurna Country. She has performed at events such as Jaurna/Feast festivals, and First Fridays at the Art Gallery of South Australia. Having been a finalist in the South Australian … ... Read more ...

Mei Szetu – Guest performer for 2026 SA Slam Heat 1

We are pleased to announce that Mei Szetu is our awesome, guest performer for SA Heat 1 of the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam on Saturday 25th July at the State Library of South Australia.

Mei Szetu is a queer, neurodivergent, Malaysian Chinese Australian poet born, raised and practising on Kaurna Country. They began performing spoken word poetry at open mics in 2022, and have since become a frequent feature performer, appearing on many a line up. They also organise Rewind Poetry. In 2024, they came first place in the South Australian leg of the Australian Poetry Slam, going on to … ... Read more ...