Poetry Events in Chicago

Check out happening poetry events all around Chicago, IL

Black & Bronze: A Bronzeville Music Fest

 Sat, 29 Aug at 01:00 pm Armstrong (Lillian Hardin) Park USD 0 to 55

The Poetry Brothel Chicago: LIFE IS A CABARET

 Fri, 12 Jun at 08:00 pm Chicago Theater Works USD 50

MONDAY JUNE 15: LATE NITE MIC WITH VIK PANDYA

 Mon, 15 Jun at 07:00 pm The Comedy Bar - Chicago Main Stage Free

MONDAY JUNE 8: LATE NITE MIC WITH VIK PANDYA

 Mon, 08 Jun at 07:00 pm The Comedy Bar - Chicago Main Stage Free

MONDAY MAY 25: LATE NITE MIC WITH VIK PANDYA

 Mon, 25 May at 07:00 pm The Comedy Bar - Chicago Main Stage Free

MONDAY JUNE 1: LATE NITE MIC WITH VIK PANDYA

 Mon, 01 Jun at 07:00 pm The Comedy Bar - Chicago Main Stage Free

MONDAY JUNE 22: LATE NITE MIC WITH VIK PANDYA

 Mon, 22 Jun at 07:00 pm The Comedy Bar - Chicago Main Stage Free

Chicago Youth Poet Laureate Ceremony

 Thu, 28 May at 07:00 pm Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago Public Library Free

PO JAM's: Poetic JustUs

 Sat, 30 May at 08:00 pm 950 W Fulton Market Free

D-Composed and Poetry Foundation Present: Love Is...

 Thu, 04 Jun at 07:00 pm The Land School Free

IN PERSON: Mayda del Valle with Adrian Matejka

 Tue, 02 Jun at 06:00 pm The Arts Club of Chicago USD 8 to 26

Love Under the Influence: A Conversation about Love & Culture

 Tue, 19 May at 06:00 pm Casa Ilumina Free

ALOK - Alok Vaid Menon at Vic Theatre

 Sat, 19 Sep at 07:00 pm Vic Theatre

Blatant Gold 2026

 Tue, 09 Jun at 06:00 pm Haymarket House Free

Poetry Reading: Orange by Noel Quiñones

 Thu, 18 Jun at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

PO JAM's: Poetic JustUs

 Sat, 27 Jun at 08:00 pm 950 W Fulton Market Free

Creative Minds, Wealthy Futures 2026

 Sat, 27 Jun at 05:00 pm SZNL Chicago LLC USD 0 to 34

Radiohead Concert in the Dark w Live Strings WAITLIST SHOW – DATE PENDING

 Sat, 06 Jun at 07:00 pm Secret Location in Chicago USD 0 to 322

Listening Hours: Jessie Montgomery

 Wed, 20 May at 06:30 pm The Land School Free

Show & Tell for Grown-Ups @ Midwest Coast Brewing

 Tue, 02 Jun at 06:30 pm Midwest Coast Brewing Company USD 0 to 23

BrooksDay 2026

 Sun, 07 Jun at 12:00 pm Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago Public Library Free

Transvengence Vol. 12

 Sun, 14 Jun at 08:00 pm Podlasie Club Free

Sunday In The Park With George

 Thu, 13 Aug at 07:00 pm Chopin Theatre USD 25 to 109

Show & Tell for Grown-Ups @ Simone's in Pilsen

 Sun, 14 Jun at 06:00 pm Simone's USD 0 to 21

Let's Talk About Art: Love Is…

 Thu, 04 Jun at 07:00 pm The Land School Free

Ladybug Artist Pop-Up

 Sun, 31 May at 02:00 pm 1547 N Milwaukee Ave Free

Poetry Reading: Bloodroom by Kay E. Bancroft

 Fri, 26 Jun at 07:00 pm Women & Children First Free

June: Three Avenues Open Mic Night

 Sat, 27 Jun at 07:30 pm 3009 N Southport Ave Free

Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony: Ed Roberson

 Thu, 18 Jun at 06:00 pm Poetry Foundation Free

Talk Yo Ish Variety Show

 Fri, 12 Jun at 08:00 pm The Crib Comedy Playspace Free

Open Mic for Poetry, Music & Comedy

 Wed, 24 Jun at 07:00 pm Platform 47 Free

Big Cheese Poetry Slam May 2026

 Tue, 26 May at 06:30 pm Zhou B Art Center USD 10 to 20

The Englewood Bookfest

 Sat, 20 Jun at 11:00 am 6234 S Wolcott Ave Free

May Book Club, Blind Date With a Book & Poetry Workshop: How to Read a Book

 Fri, 29 May at 07:30 pm Burning Bush Brewery USD 18 to 24

Verses & Voices: Chicago Book Tour Stop

 Sat, 11 Jul at 04:00 pm kibbitznest books, brews & blarney Free

Natural Hair Fest® Returns & Strengthens Natural Hair Movement in Chicago

 Sun, 28 Jun at 10:00 am Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown/River North USD 32 to 301

Sildanza Fiesta Fund

 Sat, 30 May at 07:30 pm TQ Experience Event Space USD 0 to 66

Skald

 Sat, 11 Jul at 08:00 pm Reggies Rock Club

Unheard Voices of Care Lecture Series: Ghosts and Monsters

 Thu, 21 May at 06:00 pm International Museum of Surgical Science Free

Let’s Listen

 Sat, 23 May at 05:00 pm 1561 W Howard St Free

The Mill | variety show & open mic

 Thu, 21 May at 06:30 pm Burlington Bar Free

Inside Third World Press Tours: Celebrating Gwendolyn Brooks

 Tue, 02 Jun at 10:00 am Third World Press Foundation USD 24

Soul & Sound Live Christian R&B + Neo-Soul Night

 Fri, 29 May at 07:00 pm The Gathering USD 18

Chicago, IL - Karaoke Night! @ Punch Bowl Social

 Fri, 22 May Punch Bowl Social Chicago Free

Chicago Indian Literature Festival

 Sat, 30 May at 09:00 am The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center USD 10 to 50

La Mesa Nacional Annual Conference

Sat, 25 Jul at 12:00 pm Chicago, IL

Disco Kitchen Mag: Reading & Dance Party

 Sun, 14 Jun at 07:00 pm The Whistler Free

Sistas Circle Expo feat : 2ndPOETSExpo, BeautyRedefined Runway Show & more!

 Sat, 30 May at 01:45 pm South Shore International College Preparatory High School Free

Miss Spoken: OCCUPATION

 Mon, 25 May at 07:00 pm Cole’s

Big Cheese Poetry Slam July 2026

 Tue, 28 Jul at 06:30 pm Zhou B Art Center USD 10 to 20

Low Water Bridge, Iris Marlowe, Shannon Baker

 Sun, 19 Jul at 08:00 pm Reggies Music Joint

KAPWA: a filipino variety + mutual aid show

 Fri, 29 May at 08:15 pm The Understudy Coffee and Books USD 0 to 24

Powerful Voices Open Mic Show - Live Music, Comedy, Poetry+ More!

 Thu, 14 May at 07:00 pm Chicago Free

RHINO 50th Anniversary Launch: Reading & Open Mic

 Sat, 23 May at 04:00 pm Bad Coffee, 1801 W Berteau Ave, Chicago, IL 60613

TOP POP! Open Mic!

 Sat, 30 May at 07:30 pm The.BlkRoom USD 7 to 50

We Just Want To See You Win Teen Summer Sesh

 Fri, 26 Jun at 11:00 am Shine Bright Community Center at Capital One Free

Chicago Poetry Center's Blue Hour Generative Workshop

 Wed, 20 May at 06:00 pm Haymarket House Free

May Blue Hour Featuring Patrycja Humienik and Soham Patel

 Wed, 20 May at 07:30 pm Haymarket House Free

Natural Hair Fest® KICK-OFF Celebration for the NATIONAL TOUR de Naturelle’

 Sun, 28 Jun at 10:00 am Courtyard by Marriott Chicago Downtown/River North USD 31 to 5,884

Pour Into Her! A Tea Party Experience

 Sat, 30 May at 03:00 pm Bronze47 USD 45 to 71

Big Cheese Poetry Slam June 2026

 Tue, 30 Jun at 06:30 pm Zhou B Art Center USD 10 to 20

Beatles Concert in the Dark w Award Winning Violinist WAITLIST EVENT

 Thu, 30 Jul at 08:00 pm Secret Location in Chicago Free

Between Fire and Mourning: A Night of Poetry at Slant of Light

 Fri, 12 Jun at 07:00 pm Slant of Light Books Free

Healing Through Cinema: A Film Poetry Workshop

 Sat, 23 May at 02:00 pm West Town Branch, Chicago Public Library Free

A Kinu Comm & Embody Queens Production - Sistas Circle - Exhibitors page

 Sat, 30 May at 01:45 pm South Shore International College Preparatory High School Free

Poetry Party

 Sun, 19 Jul at 03:00 pm Colvin House USD 18

Days of Wonder: it is time to be very tender with our grief (June 22)

 Mon, 22 Jun at 06:30 pm Elastic Arts USD 17

Favorite Poets and You

 Wed, 20 May at 07:30 pm Time and a half Books Free

Write That Down! Show & Tell

 Sun, 31 May at 07:00 pm Elastic Arts Free

Goetia, Ritual Fog, Defense Wound

 Thu, 02 Jul at 08:00 pm Reggies Music Joint

Days of Wonder: it is time to be very tender with our grief (June 21)

 Sun, 21 Jun at 06:30 pm Elastic Arts USD 17

McPhee/Vandermark/Corsano, Halvorson/Courvoisier, 7 Poets Tr

 Sun, 06 Sep at 07:00 pm 2319 W Belmont Ave Chicago IL 60618

Show & Tell for Grown-Ups: Audience Top Pick Presenters!

 Sun, 07 Jul at 06:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 0 to 21

The Thursday Show: Chicago's Funniest Comedians with New Jokes!

 Sat, 30 Nov at 09:30 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 13

S2 Lawndale - hope lives here! w/ Nile Lansana

 Wed, 22 Apr at 03:00 pm Lawndale Mental Health Center Free

Giggle Hour

 Tue, 01 Aug at 07:00 pm The Lincoln Lodge USD 13

Spoken Word Poetry

 Fri, 04 Apr at 06:30 pm Urban Luxe Cafe Free