Poetry Events in San Francisco

Check out happening poetry events all around San Francisco, CA

A Celebration of the Life of Joanna Macy

Fri, 03 Oct at 07:00 pm Grace Cathedral Free

Healing Through Self Expression: Poetry Slam, Networking & Film Screening

Sat, 04 Oct at 05:00 pm Intersection for the Arts Free

Lila Forde

Fri, 03 Oct at 06:30 pm 3160 16th Street, San Francisco, California 94103, United States

Poppy State: Commune with California

Sat, 18 Oct at 03:45 pm San Francisco Botanical Garden, Fragrance Garden Free

Hair on Fire: Afghan Women Poets

Sat, 11 Oct at 07:00 pm Telegraph Hill Books Free

Rachael Sage, Kristen Ford, & Tom Goss - SF

Wed, 08 Oct at 07:30 pm 988 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, United States, California 94133

Dear Ferocious Dreamer: A Festival Finale in Verse

Fri, 24 Oct at 07:30 pm Victoria Theatre Free

An Evening With Ada Limón: U.S. Poet Laureate

Sat, 11 Oct at 07:30 pm Swedish American Hall

Kidquake: Lower Elementary

Fri, 10 Oct at 10:15 am Koret Auditorium at the San Francisco Public Library

Healing Through Self Expression: Co-Working & Screening

Sat, 15 Nov at 12:00 pm 465 S Van Ness Ave Free

Poetry World Series: Litquake Edition

Sat, 11 Oct at 07:00 pm Make-Out Room USD 18 to 23

Healing Through Self Expression: Holiday Party

Sat, 22 Nov at 12:00 pm 465 S Van Ness Ave Free

Queer Open Mic Night

Tue, 21 Oct at 07:00 pm Strut

Rachika Nayar and Nina Keith Present: Disiniblud

Thu, 23 Oct at 07:00 pm 2665 Mission St, San Francisco, CA, United States, California 94110

October Sunset Ocean Dance at Ocean Beach

Sun, 12 Oct at 06:00 pm Ocean Beach USD 34

Sweet and Lowdown: Poets at the Bar

Fri, 17 Oct at 07:30 pm Make-Out Room USD 15 to 18

Kim Shuck's Poem Jam Celebrates Poesia

Thu, 09 Oct at 06:00 pm Main Library - San Francisco Public Library Free

Original Songs Open Mic Night (September 2025)

Tue, 30 Sep at 07:00 pm Ocean Ale House Free

Unbound Translations: A Listening Party

Fri, 17 Oct at 06:30 pm CounterPulse

Transformative Arts Markets by Arts.Co.Lab

Sat, 25 Oct at 10:00 am Presidio Tunnel Tops Free

Turn It Up: Celebrating 5 Years of Litquake Out Loud

Sun, 19 Oct at 07:00 pm Make-Out Room USD 15 to 18

Our Farmworking Hands Helped Harvest the Feast with The Common

Sat, 18 Oct at 01:15 pm San Francisco Botanical Garden, Fragrance Garden Free

Friends of Dorothy Read Friends of Dorothy book club

Sun, 16 Nov at 03:30 pm Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Branch Library Free

Poetry as Resistance: Ahmad Shamlou’s Enduring Voice

Thu, 23 Oct at 07:00 pm Main Library - San Francisco Public Library Free

SongWriter Live featuring Viet Thanh Nguyen and Thao Nguyen

Fri, 17 Oct at 07:30 pm Swedish American Hall

THE LAKE SHOW! OCEAN BEACH BONFIRE!

Sat, 25 Oct at 03:00 pm Ocean Beach Free

An Evening with Francesca Lee / Donovan Plant & The Leafs - SF

Fri, 07 Nov at 07:30 pm 988 Columbus Avenue, San Francisco, CA, United States, California 94133

What We Wanted to Say: Excerpts from the Hospitality House Writing Workshop

Thu, 16 Oct at 06:00 pm Main Library - San Francisco Public Library Free

Kim Shuck's Poem Jam Celebrates Pat Parker

Thu, 13 Nov at 06:00 pm Main Library - San Francisco Public Library Free

Listen To Your Elders: An Elder Project Get-Together & Reading

Thu, 16 Oct at 05:00 pm Ruth's Table Free

Songwriters Unite in A Night of Motivation

Tue, 30 Sep at 07:30 pm The Lost Church - San Francisco

PLAY "IN THE MOUNTAINS MY HEART"

Sun, 19 Oct at 04:00 pm Scottish Rite Memorial Temple

Fall Moon Festival

Thu, 16 Oct at 03:00 pm One Market Plaza Free

The Night Trembles: Nadia Terranova with Sara Marinelli

Thu, 16 Oct at 06:30 pm Italian Cultural Institute of San Francisco

Performance: Civil Liberties Now

Sun, 09 Nov at 02:00 pm Main Library - San Francisco Public Library Free

Decentered Arts Presents: Poolside Poets Anthology Release

Thu, 16 Oct at 07:00 pm Phoenix Hotel

November Sunset Ocean Dance at Ocean Beach

Sun, 16 Nov at 05:30 pm Ocean Beach USD 34

Emily Dickinson and the Poetics of a Private Life

Thu, 06 Nov at 06:00 pm Mechanics' Institute USD 7 to 18

The People's Project: Looking Forward with Saeed Jones and Maggie Smith

Tue, 21 Oct at 07:30 pm Great Star Theater Free

Kim Shuck’s Poem Jam Celebrates Janice Gould

Sun, 16 Nov at 01:00 pm Main Library - San Francisco Public Library Free

The Tell-Tale Heart: A Rap Adaptation

Tue, 21 Oct at 07:00 pm Z Space

The Tortured Poets: An Ode to Taylor Swift

Tue, 21 Oct at 07:30 pm Make-Out Room USD 18 to 23

Healing Through Self Expression: African American Art & Culture Complex

Tue, 14 Oct at 05:00 pm African American Art & Culture Complex Free

Kearny Street Workshop Presents APAture 2025: (UN)Becoming

Wed, 22 Oct at 06:30 pm Arc Studios & Gallery

2026 Burns Supper

Sat, 31 Jan at 06:00 pm St. Francis Yacht Club USD 80

La Luz

Fri, 07 Nov at 09:00 pm 777 Valencia Street San Francisco CA 94110

Performance: Kim Shuck's Poem Jam: Endangered, Extirpated, Extinct

Thu, 11 Dec at 06:00 pm Main Library - San Francisco Public Library Free

Patti Smith

Wed, 12 Nov at 04:00 pm The Masonic - San Francisco

NOV 11 Tango Poetry Project night at El Valenciano - Lecture & DJ with projection

Tue, 11 Nov at 07:30 pm El Valenciano Restaurant & Bar

JAM Workshop 50th Anniversary 1975 - 2025

Sat, 11 Oct at 02:00 pm GenRyu Arts, Japan Center, East Wing, 2nd Fl

Open Mic

Thu, 23 Jan at 07:00 pm Sealevel Free

By The Station: Open Mic

Fri, 12 Sep at 05:00 pm Youth Art Exchange Studios at La Fénix USD 0 to 7

Open Mic ~ Music ~ Poetry ~ Hip Hop ~ Jazz ~ Vendors Needed Wanted

Wed, 05 Feb at 05:00 pm San Francisco USD 7 to 34

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

Thu, 02 Oct at 05:00 pm San Francisco Free

D.I.R.T. Festival 2025: Dance In Revolt(ing) Times

Sat, 25 Oct at 02:30 pm Dance Mission Theater USD 29 to 34

Hysteria Comedy Open Mic for Women and Queers

Wed, 08 Mar at 07:00 pm San Francisco Eagle Bar Free

Open Mic Night @ The Faight

Tue, 04 Jun at 06:30 pm The Faight Collective, Haight Street, San Francisco, CA, USA Free

FREE CHRISTMAS EVE EVE SHOW! presented by Donut Worry Just Laugh

Mon, 02 Dec at 08:30 pm The Blarney Stone Bar Free