2026 San José Poetry Festival!
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The 2026 San José Poetry Festival celebrates California spirit with a lineup that features wily writers, lyrical legends, and spoken word soothsayers from all over our state.
This year, we are honored to not only host a reading, but also a writing workshop with California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick! Also on the roster is Solange Aguilar, Esperanza Cabrales, Arnoldo Colibrí, Reggie Edmonds-Vásquez, Farnaz Fatemi, Joseph Jason Santiago LaCour, Jen Siraganian, and Los Angeles Poet Laureate Brian Sonia-Wallace among many other wonderful poets!
Beautiful Black Books returns to feature Lem “Saint” Gonsalves, Alyesha Wise, Rico Frederick, and Ainsley Burrows!
Saturday’s Youth Poets Laureate event will feature Youth Poet Laureate Kurn Sundaram and Vice YPL Layla Krishnan!
Consider becoming a member of Poetry Center San José, https://www.pcsj.org/membership.
2026 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
6:30pm–10:00pm | Opening Night Main Event
Featuring Reggie Edmonds-Vásquez.
Doors at 6:30PM.
Wheelhouse of Willow Glen, 1173 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, 95125
Admission: $5–10 sliding scale.
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pcsj/2323736
Admission may be purchased at the door.
This event is free to all youth aged 19 and under.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21
4:00–5:00pm | Friday Fun Youth Poetry Workshop – FREE (No ticket needed)
Parents and children welcome to participate. Facilitated by Mighty Mike McGee. Paper and pencils will be supplied.
Willow Glen Library, 1157 Minnesota Ave, San Jose
6:30–8:30pm | ¡Cultura Poetry Night! Open Mic – Free on Zoom
RSVP recommended
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/KbkJlS7BT2-PtEZML2Xdig#/registration
A multilingual event featuring Esperanza Cabrales and arnoldo colibrí, guest poets, and an open mic! Everyone is welcome at this inclusive event presented by Poetry Center San José, hosted on Zoom by Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo, in partnership with La Raíz Magazine. Reserve your free ticket to receive the Zoom link.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22
10:00am–12:30PM | Writing Workshop with Lee Herrick
History Park in the Renzel Room of the Pacific Hotel
635 Phelan Ave. San José. Street parking available.
Reserve your seat here:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pcsj/2301633
11:00am-12:30pm | Beautiful Black Books via Zoom
Join us for poetry from four amazing poets including Lem Gonsalves, Alyesha Wise, Rico Frederick & Ainsley Burrows.
Hosted by Tshaka Campbell. Reserve your free ticket to receive the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/i6adsUUiT7yo_QZ7MPpqPg#/registration
12:30–2pm | SCC Youth Poets Laureate Commencement - FREE
Markham House at History Park
Introducing Santa Clara County to the incoming Youth Poet Laureate and 2026 finalists! Outgoing 2025-26 Youth Poet Laureate Kurn Sundaram and Vice YPL Layla Krishnan will also perform their work and pass the baton!
2:15-3:45pm | Poets of Resistance Reading - FREE
History Park in the Renzel Room of the Pacific Hotel
Featuring poets Jen Siraganian, Deema Shehabi, Farnaz Fatemi and Nathalie Khankan.
3:00–4:15pm | Writing Workshop - Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles – FREE on Zoom
Facilitated by Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo.
Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles is a bilingual generative poetry workshop inspired by the seven principles of the Zapatistas of the EZLN, Indigenous peoples of Chiapas, México. Reserve your free ticket to receive the free Zoom link:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pcsj/2301579
4:30-6:00pm | Featuring readings by California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, Brandon Luu, and Solange Aguilar! - FREE
Markham House at History Park
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23
We have booked all of our events on this day to take place at Markham House inside History Park. Come spend the day with us!
10am-2pm | Small Press Fair & Open Mic – FREE
Markham House at History Park, 1650 Phelan Avenue, San José
Peruse the perfect publications provided by provincial publishers, all under the mighty oak tree in front of our beloved Markham House. Sign up to read one poem in the open mic.
2pm-4pm | Poets of Poetry Slam - FREE
Markham House at History Park, 1650 Phelan Avenue, San José.
Featuring Scorpiana Xlent, Joseph Jason Santiago LaCour, and Los Angeles Poet Laureate Brian Sonia-Wallace.
San José Poetry Festival 2026 is presented by Poetry Center San José and sponsored in part by grants from: Applied Materials, City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs, The Poetry Foundation, and SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council; and additional support from Anne & Mark’s Art Party and the Brandenburg Family Foundation. Many thanks to Four Points by Sheraton for hotel accommodations and Robertino R. Ragazza for his guidance and hospitality. We would like to acknowledge and offer our deepest gratitude to past and current venues worthy of your support: San Jose Stage, Central Park Library Santa Clara, Convergence Arts Center, SJZ Break Room, Art Boutiki (R.I.P.), Books Inc., Caravan Lounge, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, First Unitarian Church of San José, History/San José, MACLA, Mama Kin, Recycle Bookstore, The School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza, Tabard Theatre (R.I.P.), Willow Glen Public Library, Works/San José art & performance center and Hillbrook Upper School of San José. Please support these spaces however you can. And we thank all our volunteers whose time and effort make this festival possible.
This year, we are honored to not only host a reading, but also a writing workshop with California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick! Also on the roster is Solange Aguilar, Esperanza Cabrales, Arnoldo Colibrí, Reggie Edmonds-Vásquez, Farnaz Fatemi, Joseph Jason Santiago LaCour, Jen Siraganian, and Los Angeles Poet Laureate Brian Sonia-Wallace among many other wonderful poets!
Beautiful Black Books returns to feature Lem “Saint” Gonsalves, Alyesha Wise, Rico Frederick, and Ainsley Burrows!
Saturday’s Youth Poets Laureate event will feature Youth Poet Laureate Kurn Sundaram and Vice YPL Layla Krishnan!
Consider becoming a member of Poetry Center San José, https://www.pcsj.org/membership.
2026 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
6:30pm–10:00pm | Opening Night Main Event
Featuring Reggie Edmonds-Vásquez.
Doors at 6:30PM.
Wheelhouse of Willow Glen, 1173 Lincoln Avenue, San Jose, 95125
Admission: $5–10 sliding scale.
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pcsj/2323736
Admission may be purchased at the door.
This event is free to all youth aged 19 and under.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21
4:00–5:00pm | Friday Fun Youth Poetry Workshop – FREE (No ticket needed)
Parents and children welcome to participate. Facilitated by Mighty Mike McGee. Paper and pencils will be supplied.
Willow Glen Library, 1157 Minnesota Ave, San Jose
6:30–8:30pm | ¡Cultura Poetry Night! Open Mic – Free on Zoom
RSVP recommended
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/KbkJlS7BT2-PtEZML2Xdig#/registration
A multilingual event featuring Esperanza Cabrales and arnoldo colibrí, guest poets, and an open mic! Everyone is welcome at this inclusive event presented by Poetry Center San José, hosted on Zoom by Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo, in partnership with La Raíz Magazine. Reserve your free ticket to receive the Zoom link.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 22
10:00am–12:30PM | Writing Workshop with Lee Herrick
History Park in the Renzel Room of the Pacific Hotel
635 Phelan Ave. San José. Street parking available.
Reserve your seat here:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pcsj/2301633
11:00am-12:30pm | Beautiful Black Books via Zoom
Join us for poetry from four amazing poets including Lem Gonsalves, Alyesha Wise, Rico Frederick & Ainsley Burrows.
Hosted by Tshaka Campbell. Reserve your free ticket to receive the Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/i6adsUUiT7yo_QZ7MPpqPg#/registration
12:30–2pm | SCC Youth Poets Laureate Commencement - FREE
Markham House at History Park
Introducing Santa Clara County to the incoming Youth Poet Laureate and 2026 finalists! Outgoing 2025-26 Youth Poet Laureate Kurn Sundaram and Vice YPL Layla Krishnan will also perform their work and pass the baton!
2:15-3:45pm | Poets of Resistance Reading - FREE
History Park in the Renzel Room of the Pacific Hotel
Featuring poets Jen Siraganian, Deema Shehabi, Farnaz Fatemi and Nathalie Khankan.
3:00–4:15pm | Writing Workshop - Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles – FREE on Zoom
Facilitated by Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo.
Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles is a bilingual generative poetry workshop inspired by the seven principles of the Zapatistas of the EZLN, Indigenous peoples of Chiapas, México. Reserve your free ticket to receive the free Zoom link:
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/pcsj/2301579
4:30-6:00pm | Featuring readings by California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, Brandon Luu, and Solange Aguilar! - FREE
Markham House at History Park
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23
We have booked all of our events on this day to take place at Markham House inside History Park. Come spend the day with us!
10am-2pm | Small Press Fair & Open Mic – FREE
Markham House at History Park, 1650 Phelan Avenue, San José
Peruse the perfect publications provided by provincial publishers, all under the mighty oak tree in front of our beloved Markham House. Sign up to read one poem in the open mic.
2pm-4pm | Poets of Poetry Slam - FREE
Markham House at History Park, 1650 Phelan Avenue, San José.
Featuring Scorpiana Xlent, Joseph Jason Santiago LaCour, and Los Angeles Poet Laureate Brian Sonia-Wallace.
San José Poetry Festival 2026 is presented by Poetry Center San José and sponsored in part by grants from: Applied Materials, City of San José Office of Cultural Affairs, The Poetry Foundation, and SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council; and additional support from Anne & Mark’s Art Party and the Brandenburg Family Foundation. Many thanks to Four Points by Sheraton for hotel accommodations and Robertino R. Ragazza for his guidance and hospitality. We would like to acknowledge and offer our deepest gratitude to past and current venues worthy of your support: San Jose Stage, Central Park Library Santa Clara, Convergence Arts Center, SJZ Break Room, Art Boutiki (R.I.P.), Books Inc., Caravan Lounge, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, First Unitarian Church of San José, History/San José, MACLA, Mama Kin, Recycle Bookstore, The School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza, Tabard Theatre (R.I.P.), Willow Glen Public Library, Works/San José art & performance center and Hillbrook Upper School of San José. Please support these spaces however you can. And we thank all our volunteers whose time and effort make this festival possible.
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Where is it happening?
Multiple Locations, 2559 N 1st St, San Jose, CA 95131-1003, United States
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherPoetry Center San José
