Chicharra Poetry Slam Festival Champions Stage 2026

The culmination of three days of fierce competition, the Chicharra Poetry Slam Festival Champions Stage brings together the nation’s top poets for one unforgettable night.

After a series of intense preliminary bouts, 80 elite poets have narrowed to four individual finalists and four teams, all competing for a Southwest regional championship title and their share of $5000 in prizes. This is where everything is on the line — precision, power, vulnerability, and voice.

Expect high-impact performances ranging from intimate lyric moments to searing social commentary, delivered with the urgency and electricity that only live poetry can generate. This is not a reading, it’s a reckoning.

Doors open early for community connection, snacks, and a curated selection of local and national vendors.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Zachary Kluckman