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 house, a full list of competitors, fantastic poetry from newcomers and regulars alike, and close scoring! Congratulations to winner Sarah Rowe and runner-up Sahil Choujar, who will be off to the SA State Final at Goodwood Theatre & Studios on 26 September!
Thank you to everyone who came along to compete, watch, cheer, judge and generally contribute to a fabulous vibe. Special thanks to guest performer Mei Szetu who gave us another superb set of her work. Thanks also to our volunteers, Jazz Fechner-Lante and Pam Makin who kept score and time and the SWSA rabble-rousers in check. SWSA team members Matthew Pankhurst did the sacrificial poem, Clarissa Fischer managed The Hat and interpretative dance, Daniel Watson looked after the door, Ian Gibbins took the pics, and Tracy McNally was MC.
Finally more special thanks to the State Library of South Australia for their ongoing of SWSA and the SA Poetry Slams.
SA Heat 2 of the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam is on Saturday 1 August at Parks Library, 46-48 Trafford Street, Angle Park, SA 5010. Click here for more info.
Discover more from Spoken Word SA
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.