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From June 9–13, 2026, the Literary Arts Council of Central Florida will host the 34th Annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam Festival—one of the nation’s largest gatherings of spoken word artists, featuring four days of electrifying poetry, workshops, and community celebration. For the first time in its history, “Southern Fried” comes to Central Florida, bringing together hundreds of poets from across the country to compete, collaborate, and create.

Rooted in the West African griot traditions and the modern spoken word art form, the festival amplifies diverse voices, builds bridges across communities, and celebrates the power of words to connect, heal, and inspire. From nerd slams to haiku battles, indie slams to finals night, the festival will highlight the richness of our literary ecosystem while creating opportunities for local students, emerging poets, and community members to participate.

Here in Orlando, the festival will include a kickoff event, honoring the legacy of Zora Neale Hurston—one of Florida’s greatest literary icons—through commissioned works and community events leading up to the festival. 

Your donation helps us make history. By supporting the 34th Southern Fried Poetry Slam Festival, you are helping to:

• Provide paid opportunities for local and national poets

• Offer free and accessible programming for youth and underserved communities

• Celebrate and preserve African American literary heritage

• Showcase Orlando as a vibrant center for the arts

Give today and be a part of weaving literature into the fabric of life.

All donations are meaningful—whether large or small, every contribution makes a difference in bringing this historic festival to life.

For those interested in a deeper partnership, sponsorship opportunities are available. To learn more, please contact us at contact@nyahvanterpool.com.