Poetry Month
August is Poetry Month! Grab your calendars and mark these special poetry events coming up across the NT.
21 – 25 Aug | Red Dirt Poetry Festival
Various locations across Mparntwe/Alice Springs
A celebration of poetry in the heart of Australia. The 2024 program is out now and has something for everyone: Eat Read Zine, Moonrise Poetry, Wham! Bam! Cabaret Slam! to name a few. Whatever you do, make sure you don’t miss the signature event, Haiku Deathmatch, held at 8CCC.
Fri 23 Aug | Poetry Month NT Showcase
6:00pm – 7:30pm at Gap View Hotel
Mparntwe/Alice Springs
Thanks to Red Dirt Poetry Festival, this year’s NT Showcase will celebrate the work of acclaimed Northern Territory poets in a program featuring some of the best the NT has to offer. This all-star lineup will warm your winter hearts under the desert night sky.
Thurs 22 August | Australian Poetry Slam Central Australian Heat
8:00pm -10:00pm at Gap View Hotel, Mparntwe/Alice Springs
Who will be the next Central Australian Poetry Slam Champion? Will it be you? The winner goes on to represent us at the national finals. You’ve got 2 minutes, no props, just you! Entries capped at 20 with sign ups on the night only. Featuring special performances from APS legends. Check out the website for more info.
TBA | Australian Poetry Slam – Darwin Heat
Could you be Australia’s next poetry slam champion? With only 20 spots available and 2 minutes to wow the audience, get in early to register to perform.
Sun 25 Aug | Wild Words
4.00pm -5:30pm at Flora’s Temper, Darwin
A live performance forum for poets and spoken word artists. The theme of the month is “Modern Life Is Rubbish.” Get your favourite writing medium ready and prepare to unleash your Wild Words.
1 – 31 Aug | Poetry for the Public
In regional towns across the Northern Territory
Poetry for the Public is a free poetry distribution service targeting regional towns of the Northern Territory – Darwin, Katherine, Tennant Creek, Nhulunbuy and Alice Springs. Keep an eye out for handcrafted envelopes stamped with ‘Poetry for the Public / This Poem Is A Gift’ – they’ve got poems in them. Volunteers have placed them in public places across the Territory – for anybody to find!
1 – 31 Aug | Red Room Poetry’s Poetry Month
In various locations across Australia and online!
Launched in 2021 by Red Room Poetry, Poetry Month (1-31 August) aims to increase access, awareness and visibility of poetry in all its forms and for all audiences. This year sees the return of the National Poetry Month Gala amongst a raft of exciting new commissions, fresh ambassadors, state and territory showcases. There’s also a range of accessible online events and live streams, workshops by UK and Australian guest poets, writing prompts via our daily #30in30 comp, and our community calendar.