Brave New Voices

The Brave New Voices Network includes Teams and Youth Organizations committed to creating safe spaces for youth to speak.

06/10/2026

ALL POWER TO THE POETS.
This year’s Brave New Voices theme draws inspiration from the rallying cry “All Power to the People,” first popularized by the Black liberation movements of the 1960s and the Oakland-born Black Panther Party.

The phrase was never just about power. It was about self-determination. Community care. Political imagination. The belief that ordinary people deserve the resources, platforms, and freedom to shape the world around them.

There is no better place for this gathering than the Bay Area, a region with a long history of cultural resistance, grassroots organizing, and movements that have changed the world. From Oakland to San Francisco and across the Bay, generations have fought to ensure that those most impacted have the power to speak for themselves.

Brave New Voices continues that legacy.
This summer, hundreds of young poets from across the country and around the world will gather not only to compete, but to build community, share stories, and imagine futures together. Because poetry is more than performance. It is a tool for liberation. A practice of truth-telling. A way of getting free.

Now more than ever, we need stages that make room for young people. We need spaces where their voices are trusted, amplified, and celebrated.

All Power to the Poets.
The mic is theirs.

Get your tickets to Brave New Voices 2026 by using the link in our bio or visiting bravenewvoices.org

YouthPoetry Oakland BayAreaArts

05/07/2026

REGISTER YOUR TEAM FOR BRAVE NEW VOICES by May 15th! Don’t miss your chance to compete at this monumental youth poetry festival. You can register via the link in our bio, or at bravenewvoices.org

04/28/2026

THERE’S STILL TIME TO REGISTER YOUR TEAM FOR BRAVE NEW VOICES!

Registration is open for 2026 Brave New Voices in the Bay Area!

Don’t miss your chance to compete at this monumental youth poetry festival. Registration link in bio or at bravenewvoices.org

04/22/2026

“Make her hair long. So she can forget what her roots look like.” - Team Atlanta, Brave New Voices 2016

These poems changed lives. Help us keep the stage alive for the next generation. Support Youth Speaks.

For over 30 years, Youth Speaks and Brave New Voices have provided brave spaces, launchpads, and communities where young artists turn their stories into power. But right now, that work is at risk.

The spaces that nurture youth voices don’t sustain themselves, they exist because people choose to believe in them. Because people like you step up. If you’ve ever been moved by a poem… if you believe young voices deserve to be heard, protected, and amplified… now is the moment to act.

Click the link in our bio to join us. Support the work. Be part of the next 30 years.

04/21/2026

Youth Speaks works to ensure our performance spaces are accessible to youth and our community at low or no-cost by significantly subsidizing our ticket prices. Brave New Voices is our annual youth poetry festival and this year, it’s happening in The Bay!

If you’re interested in supporting our youth and sponsoring our Brave New Voices poetry festival, visit our website at youthspeaks.org/support or contact Paola at [email protected]

04/17/2026

Want to compete at Brave New Voices?! Team registration for the 2026 Brave New Voices Festival in the Bay Area has been extended!

Be part of the world’s largest youth poetry festival and national slam, where powerful young voices from across the globe come together to perform, connect, and compete for the Brave New Voices Championship. Over four unforgettable days, participants take part in writing workshops, professional development sessions, showcases, service learning opportunities, and high-energy slam competitions.

The new deadline to apply is May 15, 2026, don’t miss your chance! Apply now through the link in our bio. Questions about your application or the BNV process? Reach out to us at [email protected].

04/09/2026

“The cold starting to feel like it’s piercing my skin.” - Team Chicago BNV 2019

This National Poetry Month, don’t just listen—act. Support the future of youth storytelling. For over 30 years, Youth Speaks and Brave New Voices have provided brave spaces, launchpads, and communities where young artists turn their stories into power. But right now, that work is at risk.

The spaces that nurture youth voices don’t sustain themselves, they exist because people choose to believe in them. Because people like you step up. If you’ve ever been moved by a poem… if you believe young voices deserve to be heard, protected, and amplified… now is the moment to act.

Click the link in our bio to join us. Support the work. Be part of the next 30 years.

04/07/2026

The Team Application for the 2026 Brave New Voices Festival is still open!

Join us at the world’s largest Youth Poetry Festival and National Slam, where the fiercest youth poets from around the world convene and compete for the Brave New Voices Championship! Across these four days, young poets engage in professional development and writing workshops, showcases, service learning opportunities, and slam competitions. Poets get to share the stage and learn from some of the nation’s most influential artists, educators, and community leaders.

Team applications close on Friday, April 24, 2026, at 5:00 pm PST. You can find the application form via the link in our bio. And for any questions relating to your application or the BNV process, contact us by email at [email protected].

04/01/2026

JOIN THE MOVEMENT. The 2026 Brave New Voices (BNV) Future Corps applications are officially open! 💙✨ Future Corps are BNV alumni, artists, and educators who serve as the Culture Keepers of the festival. They support competing teams, facilitate workshops, and invigorate the festival with group and individual performances.

If you’d like to be a part of Future Corps and join us in the Bay Area this July, click the link in our bio to apply!

03/04/2026

“I wanna fight for my future.” - Team Albuquerque, Brave New Voices 2025.

Team registration for this year’s Brave New Voices are now open, available via the link in our bio. This year we are hosting BNV in the Bay, and we couldn’t be more excited! Make sure you follow us so you don’t miss a single update.

Address

265 Shotwell Street
San Francisco, CA
94110

Website

http://www.bravenewvoices.org/

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