Victoria STATE FINAL – AUSTRALIAN POETRY SLAM
Story Week 2026

Poets Run Victoria!

With millions of metaphors to choose from, what is a poem to you?

A window framing a flaming forest. A lens pulling your iris into focus. Your friend’s sandalwood embrace.

Victorian poets from country towns and urban centres spark new dreams, clear out cobweb memes and offer audiences a sturdy branch with a clearer view of the cultural storm.

Word Travels, the not-for-profit organisation bringing you the Australian Poetry Slam (APS) since 2010, asks you to ignore that wrinkled cushion begging your bum to curl into couch.

Be spellbound by writers slamming live on The Wheeler Centre stage for a place in the 2026 APS National Final at Sydney Opera House on October 25th!

There will be tears and cheers as they electrify your imagination in this nation-wide search for the people’s poet.

APS stages creative democratic forums. We annually elect a National Poetry Slambassador: A cathartic champion. A geiger counter clicking out the country’s true anthems.

The ultimate prize is about $20k worth of publishing and gigs at Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, Singapore Writers Festival and more.

HOST: John Englezos
FEATURING: Hani Abdile, Miles Merrill and the Australian Poetry Slam 2026 Victoria Finalists

Doors 4.30pm | Start 5pm

Support new and emerging performing writers by making a tax-deductible donation with your ticket purchase.

See the full Story Week 2026 program at Word Travels when it is announced later this year.

John Englezos is a spoken word poet and Melbourne’s 2015 Poetry Slam Champion. His work has been described as “Pixar in poetry” with his book “If The World Were Upside Down" centering around notions of Hope, Identity, and Wonder. John was on the first team to represent Australia in 2017 at the National Poetry Slam Championships in Denver, Colorado USA.
John has been a presenter, speaker coach and host for Tedx, runs workshops and one-on-one sessions around poetry, performance, and self-reflection, is an uncle to six amazing kids and a brother to many.

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Hani Abdile is a Somali-born spoken-word artist and cultural activist whose words resonate with raw emotion and social consciousness. Abdile uses her art to advocate for social justice and empowerment, particularly within migrant and refugee communities. Based in the country of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, in Sydney. Hani’s first book of 43 poems, I Will Rise, was published by Writing Through Fences in 2016. I Will Rise explores how the power of our collective voices can help shape the world to be a better place for the next generation.
Hani has performed her work around Sydney and throughout Australia. She continues to write for freedom and human rights. Hani is an honorary member of PEN International, a lead member of Writing Through Fences, and an Ambassador for the Refugee Advice and Casework Service (RACS). Hani’s work has appeared in ABC, The Sydney Morning Herald, Shark Island Productions, and she has received many awards for her community work and creative art.

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Miles Merrill – Originally from Chicago, Miles Merrill is a writer, performer, facilitator and event coordinator who combines poetry with theatre, experimental audio, hip-hop beats, stand-up and, occasionally, political confrontation. Miles introduced poetry slam to Australia, co-wrote and co-directed 'Slamming for the Sydney Festival' and performed with UK DJ Billy Bizniz at the Sydney Opera House. Internationally, Merrill has performed in Krakow's Audio Art Festival, and writers' festivals in Bali, Beijing, Vancouver and Calgary.

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Australian Poetry Slam is presented by the non-profit organisation Word Travels.

Word Travels transforms lives through great writing, powerfully performed. Donors to Word Travels support diverse performing writers to engage and inspire communities across Australia and the world. With your support, we create inclusive activities, performances and professional development that helps communities feel seen and heard. Please consider becoming a supporter today.

Make a tax-deductible donation with your ticket purchase or at the Word Travels website.

This project is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW. Also supported by Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, Mumbai LitFest, Singapore Writers Festival and Byron Writers Festival.

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 2026 Victoria State Final artwork features performing writer John Englezos. Artwork design: APS 2026 artwork design: Rachel Stone Designs, DEFNE and Adara Enthaler. Concept: Miles Merrill and the Word Travels team. Poem excerpt in design: APS Champion 2025 – Arantza Garcia Ferrand.

Photo: John Englezos – photo credit Brendan Bonsack.

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 Victoria State Final APS '26, Australian Poetry Slam – Story Week 2026