Be brave on stage: taking your poetry from page to performance for the first time – Firstival 2026

Campbelltown Library
171 Montacute Rd
Newton SA 5074

Saturday 18 July 2026
10.30am to 12.30pm

Hosted by Spoken Word SA. Guided by Tracy “Coogs” McNally, this 2 hour session invites participants to focus on poetry as spoken word. Suitable for those who are new to writing or performing their poetry, as well as regular readers at open mics and slam poets wanting to hone their craft. 

Delve into performance techniques such as rhythm, timing, tone and contrast. Find your unique style and gain insight into writing for performance. Learn how to use a microphone and gain confidence reading your poetry to others … ... Read more ...

Try your First Poetry Slam Workshop – Firstival 2026

Woodcroft Library
175 Bains Road
Morphett Vale, SA 5162

Sunday July 5
1.30pm to 3.30pm

Be Brave on Stage: A performer’s first steps toward the Sydney Opera House.
Prepare for the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam competition!

Being prepared is the best way to combat your nerves. Find the confidence to perform in the upcoming 2026 with experienced poet, Carissa Fischer. This workshop is perfect for poets who are building up the courage to participate in the slam or for slam poets who wish to hone their skills. Carissa will be your insider guide on the ins and outs of the spoken … ... Read more ...

Spoken Word SA Youth Week 2026 Showcase – Guest line-up revealed

Friday 17th April 2026
5:30pm – 6:30pm

Adelaide City Library
Level 3, 77-91 Rundle Place, Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000

FREE
Click here to reserve your seat.

Adelaide has a vibrant spoken word community, with boundless amounts of talent. Get ready to be awed by some of this city’s young rising stars in Spoken Word SA Youth Week Showcase, held in partnership with Adelaide City Libraries. Four poets, all under the age of 25, will be sharing their original words and performances. Their voices represent a bright future, and their work will leave you inspired.

LEVI YOUNG

Levi Young … ... Read more ...

Spoken Word SA Youth Week 2026 Showcase


Friday 17th April 2026
5:30pm – 6:30pm

Adelaide City Library
Level 3, 77-91 Rundle Place, Rundle Mall, Adelaide SA 5000

FREE

Adelaide has a vibrant spoken word community, with boundless amounts of talent. Get ready to be awed by some of this city’s young rising stars. Four poets, all under the age of 25, will be sharing their original words and performances. Their voices represent a bright future, and their work will leave you inspired.

Presented in Partnership with Spoken Word SA and Adelaide City Libraries.

Show your support for these rising stars! Click here reserve your seat.

Summer Slam 2026 Final – hotter than ever!!

  • Finalists
  • Winner – Sidarth Nambiar
  • Runner-up – Ben Adams
  • Solar
  • Brooklyn Saliba
  • Cameron Turner
  • Megan Eliis
  • Kathryn Reese
  • Aaron Mitchell
  • Sonny Wissman
  • John Williston
  • Sacrifice – Jazz Fechner-Lante
  • Guest – Arantza Garcia Ferrand
  • The Hat
  • Audience & MC Tracy “Coogs”McNally

After two fabulous heats, the final of the 2026 Summer Slam showcased the talents of the 10 finalists in front of a packed and enthusiastic audience at the State Library of South Australia. The poetry was diverse in style and content, the scores were very close, but in the end, first place went to Sidarth Nambiar with runner-up Ben Adams… ... Read more ...

Summer Slam 2026 Final!

Saturday 7 February 2026
Doors open at 6:30pm

State Library of South Australia
cnr North Tce and Kintore Ave, Adelaide, SA 5000

$15 at the door or via trybooking
Click here for tickets

Book tickets

The SWSA Summer Slam came back in style for 2026 and here is the final! 

The five top-scoring poets from each of the two heats will battle it out in the Summer Slam Final on the stage at the State Library of South Australia. 

As always, there is a maximum of 2 minutes for each contestant, who will need to have … ... Read more ...

Summer Slam 2026 Heat 2 maintains the vibe!

  • Heat 2 finalists
  • finalist – Cameron Turner
  • finalist – Solar
  • finalist – Aaron Mitchell
  • finalist – Sonny Wissman
  • finalist – Sidharth Nambiar
  • Samantha Seymor
  • Sally Hardy
  • River Hill
  • Annette Swain
  • Sahil Choujar
  • Chelsea Avard
  • Jess Lynch
  • MC – Tracy “Coogs” McNally
  • sacrifice – Matthew Pankhurst
  • Audience at Campbelltown Library

Heat 2 of the 2026 SWSA Summer Slam maintained the hot poetry vibe at Campbelltown Library. The scoring was incredibly close with only fractions of a point separating the finalists. Congratulations to Sidharth Nambiar, Aaron Mitchell, Sonny Wissman, Solar, and Cameron Turner who all will be heading to the 2026 Summer … ... Read more ...

Summer Slam 2026 – Heat 2 at Campbelltown Library

Saturday 31 January 2026
Doors open for sign-up at 6:30pm

Campbelltown Public Library
171 Montacute Rd, Newton, SA 5074

Summer Slam is back throughout January and early February in 2026, with two heats and a final. The Summer Slam is a beginner friendly, relaxed slam and a great way to kick off the coming year of poetic endeavours.

There is no theme, so make the most of those lazy summer evenings… dip your legs in the pool and get to writing!

Heat 1 at Jive was a blast with 5 poets moving through to the final. Now 5 more poets … ... Read more ...