Start: 3pm
(local times)

Contact details, tickets and more information here.  

After heats with the top spoken-wordsmiths from across Victoria, poets storm the State Library stage. We drop the mic into their open palms. Watch them strive for beauty, curiosity, respect and – yeah let’s go there – Love. There will be tears and cheers as they electrify your imagination. 

Join the nation-wide search for the people’s poet. It’s the Australian Poetry Slam 2025 Election. What do politicians want? Power and profit. What do poets want? Deep communication and understanding. The choice is obvious. Put poets in charge.

You – the audience – send two powerful writers to the National Final at Sydney Opera House with nothing but a mic, words and deep exhales of honesty.

Through these poetry slams, these creative democratic forums, we annually elect a National Slambassador: A cathartic champion. A geiger counter clicking out the country’s true anthems. 

The ultimate prize is about $20k worth of gigs across Australia and Asia in 2026.

HOST: John Englezos
FEATURES: The APS 2025 Victoria Finalists

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.

Event times local time.
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This Australian Poetry Slam event is presented by Word Travels and State Library Victoria.

Conversation Quarter, State Library Victoria – 328 Swanston Street, Melbourne Victoria 3000