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The 2026 IPA Poetry Slam Season is upon us! We are hosting a series of four qualifying poetry slams across the state in search of our 2026 IPA Poetry Slam Champion. Each qualifier will have up to 12 local poets competing. The top three poets from each qualifier will automatically advance to the IPA Poetry Slam Finals to be held on April 18, 2026 as part of Poetry Palooza! The winner of the IPA Poetry Slam Finals will be named the 2026 Iowa Champion and earn an IPA-sponsored spot in the 2026 BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam. This year's national slam will be held in Overland Park, Kansas, on July 23-26, 2026.Find a qualifying slam near you and save the date! Find the full slam rules and registration at iowapoetry.org/slam
Final stage prizes
First place: $100 + 1-Year Membership to IPA + Publication in Lyrical Iowa + Paid Registration to 2025 BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam
Second place: $50 + 1-Year Membership to IPA + Publication in Lyrical Iowa
Third place: $25 + 1-Year Membership to IPA + Publication in Lyrical Iowa
Competing poets must have an Iowa address. Competing poets must be at least 18 years old BY JULY 23, 2025. You can compete in our slam if you are 17 years old, so long as you will be 18 by the start of the BlackBerry Peach National Poetry Slam.
Poet’s Understanding and Agreement
Participation in this competition signals a poet’s understanding and agreement of the commitment to attending each event if they progress forward (i.e., qualifying slam, final slam, and national slam). If a poet cannot commit to each stage of the competition, they should allow other poets the opportunity. If a poet makes the final stage but learns they’re unable to attend the final stage or the national stage, they’re required to notify the Slam Chair as soon as possible.
Slam season schedule:
- Feb 11: Cedar Falls Qualifier, Interp Theater, UNI Campus, Cedar Falls, 7 p.m.
- Feb 12: DSM Qualifier, The Slow Down Coffee Co, Des Moines, 6 p.m.
- Feb 16: CRANDIC Qualifier, ICON (Iowa Conservatory) Iowa City, 7 p.m.
- Feb 26: Ames Qualifier, Ames Writers Collective (612 5th St.), Ames, 7 p.m.
- Apr 18: State Finals, Grand View Viking Theater, Des Moines, 7 p.m. (part of Poetry Palooza)
Don't want to compete? No worries! Come on out to cheer on the poets, enjoy poetry, and/or volunteer to judge! All are welcome!
For questions, please contact Kelsey Bigelow at [email protected]
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