Every year, over 200 poets from across the country gather to share their voices, compete for bragging rights, and soak up that signature Southern Fried hospitality. There are cash prizes, championship rounds, and some of the fiercest poetry battles you’ll ever witness, but at the end of the day, it’s about the art. This year’s festival will feature a special kickoff event, a tribute to Zora Neale Hurston, celebrating her literary legacy through spoken word, community engagement, and artistic excellence.

34th Annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam Festival 2026 and #ReviveZora

Rules of Poetry Slams

• Poets get 3 minutes to deliver their piece.

• Go over time, and there’s a point deduction.

• No props, no costumes, no music—just the poet and the mic.

• Poets advance through preliminary bouts to the championship stage, where the best of the best compete for the title.