Literary Event: Coastal Poets Live

Coastal Poets LIVE is where words come alive! 

This brings together the Central Coast's growing community of poets, spoken word artists and lovers of language. Hosted by local poet Robert Edmonds, each event showcases a featured guest poet and an open mic, creating space for both seasoned performers and first-time readers to take the stage. 

Explore the incredible diversity of poetic expression, from slam poetry and spoken word to haiku, free verse, lyric poetry and experimental forms. Every month offers something new, inspiring and unexpected. 

Coastal Poets LIVE is dedicated to building a vibrant, inclusive and supportive poetry community on the Central Coast where all ages, cultures, identities and creative voices are welcomed and celebrated. 

Whether you're ready to perform or simply soak up the atmosphere, join us as we connect through creativity, conversation and the transformative power of poetry. 

Doors open: 2pm

Showtime: 3pm-5pm 

This month's Featured Poet: Hemat Malak

Hemat Malak is an accountant and poet from Picton, NSW. Winner of the 2025 Bruce Dawe National Poetry Prize, a Pushcart and Best New Poets nominee, she’s been shortlisted for the ACU and Robert Gray Poetry Prizes and longlisted for the Liquid Amber and Ros Spencer Poetry Prizes. Her poetry has appeared in Australian and international publications including Rattle, Rochford Street Review, Live Encounters, One Art and Locative Magazine. Her debut poetry collection, Shelf Life, was published by 5 Islands Press in 2026.

Join us from 2:00pm for lunch and happy hour specials before the poetry begins. Open mic sign-ups open at 2:30pm, where you can secure a two-minute reading spot to share your work (places are limited, so get in early!). Prefer to sit back and soak it all in? You're very welcome to come along and enjoy the performances. 

The event officially starts at 3:00pm. Everyone is welcome.

Attendees under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.

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Artists depend on audiences like you - those who buy tickets and fill seats.
Don’t wait until the last minute; shows can be cancelled due to low interest.
Secure your ticket now and help keep the arts alive.