Australian Poetry Slam Heat - Brisbane Square Library

Poets Run This! Have you ever wanted to change the world with your words?

You are invited to rip those scrawled leaves of passion from your notebook and ignite them on stage. Every year, since 2007, Word Travels runs Australian Poetry Slam (APS) heats and wordshops in over 60 locations across the Asia-Pacific. APS is the cupped hand amplifying the shouts of over 2000 new and emerging writers annually.

Share your words for two minutes on the mic. By throwing your ideas into the slam-storm, you could be chosen as the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam-bassador and offered an international writers’ festival tour worth about $20K.

Use your poems to spark new dreams, clear out cobweb memes or offer listeners a sturdy eucalypt branch with a better view. This is your call. Get up. Gather at your local slam. Share with your community.Jump on the mic or listen, cheer and hold-up scorecards as part of the audience in this international celebration of spoken-wordsmiths. Electrify us. Show the world how POETS RUN THIS!

This APS Heat audience will send two writers to represent Brisbane in a performance at the Queensland Final. The top 16 in the country make it to the National Final at Sydney Opera House on the 25th of October.

Want to get inspired with a slam wordshop led by a professional spoken word artist? Check out the

Hosted by Huda the Goddess

Huda the Goddess is an internationally recognised spoken word poet, educator, and activist known for her powerful improvised poetry. A proud Black Sudanese Muslim woman, she uses her work to challenge narratives, spark conversation, and build meaningful connections through storytelling.

A national poetry slam champion, Huda won the Australian Poetry Slam (2021) and made history as the first spoken word poet invited to the World Slam Poetry Championship in Belgium. She has performed on major stages globally, blending poetry with dance and performance to create immersive, multidisciplinary work.

Beyond the stage, Huda is the founder of Black Ink, a Brisbane-based open mic centring Black artists, and the creator of She Is, a national exhibition empowering women of colour to share their stories. Her work sits at the intersection of art, activism, and community.

Doors open/poet sign-up at: 12:30 pm

Slam starts at: 1pm

Content Warning: Most Poetry Slams are all ages and some content may not be suitable for children. Performances may include strong language and / or adult themes. See www.australianpoetryslam.com for full 2026 details. Head to www.wordtravels.info to find out more about how you can get involved with the not-for-profit organisation presenting the annual APS.

Australian Poetry Slam is presented by Word Travels. This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Also supported by Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, Mumbai LitFest, Singapore Writers Festival and Byron Writers Festival.

APS 2026 artwork design: Rachel Stone Designs and DEFNE. Concept: Miles Merrill and the Word Travels team. Poem excerpt in design: APS Champion 2025 – Arantza Garcia Ferrand.