FIRST NATIONS
LAND
Australian Poetry Slam acknowledges that we work, live, and tell stories on the unceded lands of the Gadigal People. We pay respect to their Elders past and present. Always was, always will be First Nations land.
APS LIVESTREAMS
COLLECTION
Praise to the poets from around the country who have shared and bared their souls throughout the competition — thank you for being on our stage.
CONNECT WITH US
Comment, like, share, join the conversation.
WORK WITH US
We’re always keen to hear from volunteers to help bring our programs to life. Gain new skills, get a behind-the-scenes look at delivering a literary event, meet like-minded people – and, most of all, have an enjoyable and rewarding experience.
AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM 2024 IS HAPPENING NOW!
More than 1000 writers release wild words on audiences across Australia. Poets break free from their notebook cages landing on a stage near you.
APS '24 TICKETS
NATIONAL FINAL
APS '24 TICKETS
NSW FINAL
APS '24 TICKETS
ALL FINALS
APS '24
UPCOMING EVENTS
APS ’24 invites you to perform, cheer, snap and hold-up scorecards in this nation-wide celebration of spoken-wordsmiths.
Unleash your thoughts; launch mini-revolutions, like a chorus of kingfishers on a mission.
Writers let fly on the mic for two minutes. Shout, call out, even warble your fresh lit.
Crowds flock with cheers and hoots. Judges, chosen from the audience, send two poetic messengers to your state final!
The top sixteen wordsmiths converge at Story Week ‘24 on the National Final at Sydney Opera House on 13 October.
Are you the next APS Champion? Win a prize worth $20,000, including publication and gigs from Byron to Bali and beyond.
Australian Poetry Slam Heat and Workshop dates are being announced every week.
Australian Poetry Slam Finals are pert of Story Week 2024: a celebration of sharing stories.
Story Week 2024 artwork – concepts: Miles Merrill, design: Rachel Stone Art & Design
2023 Australian Poetry Slam Champions Rob Waters and K.J. Hayward – Photo Credit: Jacquie Manning. Design: Rachel Stone Designs. Concept: Miles Merrill and the Word Travels team.
HELP OUR WORDS TRAVEL
We do a lot with our little piece of the pie but we can’t do it by ourselves.
Check out Creative Director, Miles Merrill’s, message to our supporters and indulge in his favourite pie recipe.
OUR IMPACT
Annually, Word Travels' and Australian Poetry Slam programs engage with thousands of writers and audience members.
In 2023 we had:
3,714 participants in our programs
307,188 audience members
190 activities
9 arts workers employed
92 paid artists
Your tax-deductible donation helps us support performing writers to establish careers in Australia and internationally. Hundreds of people from diverse regional communities have become working spoken word poets through our programs.
2010–2023
8.2mil audience
19K writers performing
40K students participating
2023 Australian Poetry Slam Champions Rob Waters and K.J. Hayward – photo credit: Jacquie Manning
2023 AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM STREAM!
With 60 heats across the nation, the best slammers perform for the chance to win the APS National Final. In past years the ultimate prize has been an all-expenses-paid international tour, performing at arts festivals around Australia, Southeast Asia and North America.
AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM
Subscribe to our e-news for regular updates and check out upcoming events.
2023 APS National Final: Rob Waters, K.J Hayward – photo credit: Jacquie Manning
CHAMPIONS
Congratulations to the winners of the 2023 Australian Poetry Slam National Final!
At the 8 October 2023 APS National Final Rob Waters from NSW became the 2023 Australian Poetry Slam National Champion and K.J. Hayward from Victoria the 2023 Australian Poetry Slam Youth Champion.
Praise to the poets from around the country who have shared and bared their souls throughout the competition — thank you for being on our stage.
SLAM YOUR POETRY: WRITE A REVOLUTION
Australian Poetry Slam partners with NewSouth Publishing to bring you Australia’s first guide to spoken word and poetry slams!
Written by Miles Merrill, the poet who brought slams down under, and award-winning high school teacher Narcisa Nozica, Slam Your Poetry catapults you from writing to performing to gigging, teaching and kick-starting your own slam community.