WordFest Youth Poetry Slam Finals

Co-presented with the Word

Snap your fingers for blossoming poets and spoken word artists as they explore communication, vulnerability and more through poetry, rap, slam and jam. Contestants will perform for the audience and be judged on their compositions and performance in the final round of this competition. See rising stars of the spoken word world and cheer on the next generation of poets. Want to slam? Email thewordpoetry@gmail.com by May 24th.

Learn more about The Word:

The Word

Grounded in poetry, rap, and song, The Word is a radically inclusive literary arts movement for New Haven’s young people. The Word partners experienced teaching poets, award-winning spoken word artists, and emcees with creative students and teachers across the city to equip youth to become stronger poets and culture creators.

The Word's youth leaders created WordFest, a series of poetry jams, slams, concerts, panels and workshops to create dialogue among young creatives through the transformative power of the written and spoken word. WordFest returns in 2022 to showcase New Haven's brightest 13– 19 year-old spoken word stars in the WordFest Youth Poetry Slam, the winners of which will form the first-ever New Haven Youth Slam Team.

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