Bards & Brews Kicks Off 2026 with Poetry Slam Jan. 9 at Central Library

What: BPL’s Bards & Brews Poetry Slam 
When: Friday, January 9, 2026 | 6:30–8:30 p.m. (on-site poet registration opens at 6:00 PM)
Where: Central Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham, AL 35203
Sponsors:  Bards & Brews, the Birmingham Public Library's monthly spoken word poetry series, is supported by a grant from the Alabama State Council on the Arts presented to the Friends Foundation of the Birmingham Public Library.

Birmingham, Ala. - Want to see and hear some of the top poets in metro Birmingham competing for a combined $500 in cash prizes? Birmingham Public Library invites you to our first Bards & Brews Poetry Slam of 2026 at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, January 9, at the Central Library downtown, 2100 Park Place. Thed Weller will serve as host and singer BrightLight, found on Facebook as the Brightlight Experience, will provide musical entertainment.

Prize distribution will be as follows: the first place slam winner will receive a $250 check, second place $150, and third place $100. Winners will be chosen by five volunteer judges from the audience. The poetry slam will be limited to the first 10 poets to sign up.

Doors open at 6:00 p.m. Musical entertainment will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by the poetry competition. Admission is free to the public; you must be 18 or older to enter. Unlike regular monthly Bards & Brews which mix spoken word poetry with craft beer, this special Bards & Brews will recognize Dry January, serving “mocktails,” a non-alcoholic drink consisting of a mixture of fruit juices and other beverages. Mocktails will come from Trunk Tea, a provider of spirit-free cocktails.

During a poetry slam, spoken word poets perform original work in timed rounds. The top-scoring poets will advance through three rounds, with one final round determining the slam champion. In the case of a tie, a “slam-off” will decide the winner. Audience members are encouraged to cheer their favorites, and even boo the judges’ scores!

Now in its 15th year, Bards & Brews has become one of BPL’s most popular programs, known for uniting Birmingham’s arts community and providing a stage for some of the city’s most talented spoken word performers.

For more information, follow BPL on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and check out the Bards & Brews Facebook page for updates.

Written by Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist| Birmingham Public Library