Birmingham Public Library Bards & Brews Poetry Grand Slam to Award $1,000 in Cash Prizes September 4
BIRMINGHAM,
Ala. — Think you
have what it takes to be crowned Birmingham Public Library's 2026 Poetry Grand Slam
champion?
Ten of the
best poets in metro Birmingham will take the stage Friday, September 4,
competing for $1,000 in cash prizes during BPL's Bards & Brews Poetry Grand
Slam, the biggest poetry slam of the year.
The event
begins at 6:30 p.m. at Birmingham Public Library, 2100 Park Place, Birmingham,
AL 35203. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Thed
Weller will host the Grand Slam, while singer/guitarist Ashley Sankey will
provide musical entertainment.
The top
three poets will take home a combined $1,000:
- First place: $500
- Second place: $300
- Third place: $200
Poets who
want to compete can sign up on-site beginning at 6 p.m. The competition is
limited to the first 10 poets who register. There is a $5 entry fee for slam
participants. Admission is free to the public, but attendees must be 18 or
older.
During a
poetry slam, spoken-word poets perform their original work in timed rounds
while five volunteer judges from the audience score their performances.
The
highest-scoring poets advance through three rounds, with the final round
determining the Grand Slam champion. If there is a tie, the poets will face off
in a “slam-off” to determine the winner.
Audience
participation is encouraged. Cheer for your favorite poets — and, in keeping
with the spirited tradition of poetry slams, don't be surprised if the audience
boos the judges' scores!
Written by Roy L. Williams, Public Relations Specialist | Birmingham Public Library
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