SWAS Summer Slam 2026 – Heat 1 at Jive

Thursday 15 January 2026
Doors open for sign-up at 6:30pm

JIVE
181 Hindley St, Adelaide, SA 5000

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!

Our opening heat is at Jive, a fabulous venue with a big stage, great bar and fun vibe. They have … ... Read more ...

Get warmed up for the 2026 SWSA Summer Slam!

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!

5 poets from each of the 2 heats will win book prizes, courtesy of Dymocks Adelaide, and go through to the final to compete for more awesome prizes at the State Library on Saturday 7 February, 2026.

The … ... Read more ...

Arantza Garcia, 2025 SA Poetry Slam winner is Australian Poetry Slam National Champion!

Words can’t express how incredibly proud we are that SA slam poet Arantza Garcia won the 2025 Australian Poetry Slam!

Both Arantza and Tori (TJ) represented SA with heartfelt and beautifully intimate poems that left us with goosebumps and a tear in our eyes. It was truly an honour to share this experience with them and to showcase the amazing talent that we have here in SA.

This is the first time an SA poet has taken the win since the Australian Poetry Slam competition began 20 years ago! We know the entire SA poetry community shares a great … ... Read more ...

Be Natural Poetry Slam – poems and performances to fit our times…

  • winners
  • winner – Ben Adams
  • runner-up – Sahil
  • Olenka Toroshenko
  • Jacqueline Collier
  • Aaron Mitchell
  • Rita Dee
  • David Cronin
  • Kathryn Reese
  • Nick Falkner
  • Alex Adorno
  • John Willison
  • Tyler Clare
  • Chloe West
  • Pep
  • Tiffany Wilson
  • Tim O’Loughlin
  • Caitlin Cantwell
  • guest – Shaine Melrose
  • MC – Pam Makin
  • Audience at Arthur Art Bar

On the final weekend of the 2025 Nature Festival, a fabulous line-up of poets presented their nature-influenced work to a large and enthusiastic audience at Arthur Art Bar. Topics and styles were as diverse as ever, but it was impossible to ignore the toxic algal bloom currently afflicting so … ... Read more ...

SA Final of 2025 Australian Poetry Slam – top quality and a full house!

  • Finalists
  • winner – Arantza Garcia
  • runner-up – TJ
  • Stephanie Mylan
  • Conor Brown
  • Elise Witter
  • Peter Wilkes
  • Jacqueline Collier
  • Ben Adams
  • Nigel Ford
  • sacrifice – Nadia Patterson
  • guest performer – Jack Vaul
  • MC – Tracy McNally
  • Score desk – Pam Makin & Matthew Pankhurst

What a great night at Goodwood Theatre and Studios for the SA Final of the 2025 Australian Poetry Slam! After a tight, high quality contest in front of a full house, we are proud to have winner Arantza Garcia and runner-up Tori Johns (TJ) representing the SA poetry community at the National Final of the Australian Poetry … ... Read more ...

A Dinner Time Story Circle – Story Week 2025

Thursday 23 October 2025
6:30pm

African Village Restaurant
2A Northcote Street, Torrensville, SA 5031

$20, includes meal.
Click here to book at trybooking

Feast on the diversity of the human experience while enjoying authentic Ethiopian food! 

As Story Week expands into South Australia, we offer an evening featuring a shared meal and story circle to feed your body and soul. Join us at the African Village Restaurant, a place of connection, born from the hope and resilience of owner Mohamed Bayan. A set of story cards will guide your conversations with friends and strangers around the tables to … ... Read more ...

BE NATURAL Poetry Slam – 2025 Nature Festival

Saturday, 11 October 2025
2:00 pm to 5:00 pm

Arthur Art Bar
66 Currie St, Adelaide, SA 5000

$15
Book at Humanitix

It’s time to let your words FLOW!

Now in its sixth year, the ‘Be Natural’ Poetry Slam is an all ages event as part of the 2025 Nature Festival, with the broad theme of nature and what it means to you, giving participants the opportunity to stretch their creative ‘limbs’ and think about what nature and the natural world means to them.

The rules are simple – one poem, two minutes maximum, no props, no costumes, no … ... Read more ...

Australian Poetry Slam 2025 – SA State Final: Here is the full line-up and guest performer!

  • Jacqueline Collier
  • Arantza Garcia
  • TJ
  • Nigel Ford
  • Ben Adams
  • Conor Brown
  • Peter Wilkes
  • Stephanie Mylan
  • Elise Witter
  • Suzie Hall

Saturday 27 September 2025
Doors open at 7:30pm

Goodwood Theatre & Studios
166 Goodwood Road, Goodwood, SA 5034

$25
Click here to book at trybooking

After 5 stupendous heats for the SA leg of the 2025 Australian Poetry Slam, we now have our 10 SA State Finalists gearing up to smash the stage at the Goodwood Theatre & Studios on Saturday 27 September.

Congratulations to Jacqueline Collier, Arantza Garcia, TJ, Nigel Ford, Conor Brown, Ben Adams, Peter Wilkes, Stephanie … ... Read more ...