Poetry Festival Singapore

11/06/2026

Poetry Festival Singapore 2026: WORKSHOP REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

From July 24–26, the National Library transforms into a vibrant melting pot of rhythm, verse and imagination. This year’s theme, "Borders & Bridges," celebrates poetry’s power to smash through barriers, shatter divides, and connect worlds, languages and hearts.

Whether you’re a seasoned wordsmith, an aspiring writer or just curious about the magic of a live mic, there is a front-row seat waiting for you.

The Festival Highlights include the following:
~Exciting Collaborations: Powerhouse performances where acclaimed poets meet multicultural live musicians and choirs!

~Multilingual Soul: Inspiring readings capturing the raw Singaporean experience in English, Chinese, Malay, and Tamil as well as virtual reality art!

~The National Poetry Competition Awards: Witness the crowning of the city’s finest new voices at the National Poetry Competition ceremony!

~Next-Level WORKSHOPS: Get hands-on and unleash your creativity with Spoken Word/ Drama with US-based poet and drama teacher Giovanni Ortega and mind-bending Oulipo poetry with SLP winner Desmond FX Kon Zhicheng Mingde. Sign up.for limited slots: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/spoken-word-and-oulipo-poetry-workshops-tickets-1991561215206?aff=oddtdtcreator&fbclid=IwY2xjawSXViFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR7pUEM9JOqge8MPnS1JYz5JgwZnWdhwFhWZrRzgBoS4OFvJdLeI60lsU8vD1A_aem_qJ-1VUtOyT7O0C4UAM0a2w

~Boundary-Crossing Sessions: Fascinating dialogues featuring filmmakers, medical professionals and Pulitzer Prize winners!

📅 Dates: 24–26 July 2026

📍 Venues: The Pod (Level 16), Imagination & Possibility Rooms, and the Programme Zone (B1) at the National Library and Project A+

09/06/2026

Do you have something to say about catharsis or a cathartic experience?

Write 1 to 2 poems and submit to Poetry Festival Singapore’s Catharsis open call to all, even non-Singaporeans!

Poets of curated submissions will have the chance to perform their works at the National Library on 25 July.

Send in your entries to https://bit.ly/pfs-catharsis2026 by 14 June 2026.

09/06/2026

A multicultural reading on July 26, the 3rd day of Poetry Festival 2026, at the National Library.

06/06/2026

WRITE AND BURN FINALS SHOWCASE
On 30 May @ the National Library Building.

Singapore’s fiercest young voices take the mic in the ultimate spoken word showdown.

The top three winners are as follows:

1st: Ariktha Choudhary (in video)
2nd: Evonne Toh Jie Xi
3rd: Jayvier Chua Cheng Xi

05/06/2026

https://www.bbc.com/audio/play/p0nq06hm

Learn about the positive impacts of poetry and practise your listening skills

05/06/2026

Poetry Festival Singapore 2026: Borders & Bridges

Cross the line. Build the bridge.

From 24–26 July 2026, the National Library becomes a vibrant meeting point for poetry, imagination and connection.

This year’s theme, “Borders & Bridges,” celebrates poetry’s power to span cultures, languages and experiences, bringing people together across every divide.

Whether you're a seasoned poet, an aspiring writer or simply curious about the magic of words, there's a place for you here.

Festival Highlights
~Electrifying performances by acclaimed poets and multicultural musicians
~ Inspiring readings in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil
~ National Poetry Competition Awards Ceremony
~Innovative workshops exploring spoken word, drama and Oulipo
~Thought-provoking panels and readings featuring filmmakers, medical professionals and internationally acclaimed writers

📅 24–26 July 2026
📍 The Pod (Level 16), Imagination & Possibility Rooms, and Programme Zone (B1), National Library

More details coming soon.

04/06/2026

WRITE AND BURN FINALS SHOWCASE
On 30 May @ the National Library Building.

Singapore’s fiercest young voices take the mic in the ultimate spoken word showdown.

04/06/2026

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/03/books/review/on-poetry-art-ekphrasis.html

The form known as ekphrasis — or poetry about art — has taken a turn toward the individual. Our columnist asks what it means.

29/05/2026

National Poetry Competition 2026 submissions are closing in TWO DAYS!

Theme: Borders and Bridges
A border is never merely a line. We explore this tension: the walls we inherit and the crossings we imagine. Poetry has always been an act of translation, not just between languages but between solitudes. Write about crossings, connections, identity, distance, language or the spaces in between.

✍️ Up to 40 lines
🌏 English, Chinese, Malay, or Tamil
💥 FREE ENTRY

Who can enter?
🟡 Super Junior (Ages 10–13)
🔵 Junior (Ages 14–17)
🟠 Senior (Ages 18 and above)

⏳ Deadline: 31 May 2026

👉 Submit your entry today and let Singapore hear what you have to say at: https://forms.gle/ukzXnSXYbRCSnoDD9 !

Build bridges. Cross borders. Be heard.

With the support of the National Arts Council and .