NSW STATE FINAL – AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM
Story Week: Grow Deeper

You are invited to listen to your neighbours. Watch them rip open their notebooks, light up their phone notes or spit verbs from memory; flying their poetic thoughts into a live mic.

Australian Poetry Slam 2025 (APS ’25) travelled all over NSW to unearth the best spoken word artists from country towns to metro centres. We staged heats from Byron to Albury and everywhere in between.

Now it’s up to you to cheer, snap and hold up scorecards in this state-wide celebration of wordsmiths. Each writer gets two minutes to wow you with their literary wizardry.

Judges chosen from the crowd will send two poets to represent NSW at Sydney Opera House the following week on 26 October at the APS ‘25 National Final.

Come along, click, shout and elect your 2025 NSW Poetry Slam Champions.

HOST: DEFNE
FEATURING: Rachael Williams and the Australian Poetry Slam 2025 NSW Finalists

With more artists and musos to be announced!

Doors 6.30pm | Start 7pm

See the full Story Week 2025 program at Word Travels.

This project is in partnership with the State Library of NSW.

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body. This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Also supported by City of Sydney; Ubud Writers and Readers Festival; Singapore Writers Festival; Byron Writers Festival; and Mumbai LitFest.

Content Warning: Most Poetry Slams are all ages and some content may not be suitable for children. Performances may include strong language and / or adult themes.

Before booking your tickets, please read the information on our website regarding any health safety measures.

APS 2025 NSW State Final artwork features performing writer DEFNE– photo credit: Ali Al Haj Bankstown Poetry Slam. Artwork design: Rachel Stone Designs. APS 2025 concept: Miles Merrill and the Word Travels team.

Word Travels acknowledges that we work, live, and tell stories on the unceded lands of the Gadigal People. We pay respect to their Elders past and present. Always was, always will be First Nations land.

Contact the host of NSW State Final APS '25, Australian Poetry Slam – Story Week 2025