Word Travels presents Australian Poetry Slam Moorabool Heat featuring Jo Yang

Poets Run This!

Have you ever wanted to change the world with your words?

You are invited to rip those scrawled leaves of passion from your notebook and ignite them on stage.

Every year, since 2007, Word Travels runs Australian Poetry Slam (APS) heats and wordshops in over 60 locations across the Asia-Pacific.

APS is the cupped hand amplifying the shouts of over 2000 new and emerging writers annually.

Share your words for two minutes on the mic. By throwing your ideas into the slam-storm, you could be chosen as the 2026 Australian Poetry Slam-bassador and offered an international writers’ festival tour worth about $20K.

Use your poems to spark new dreams, clear out cobweb memes or offer listeners a sturdy eucalypt branch with a better view. This is your call.

Get up. Gather at your local slam. Share with your community.
Jump on the mic or listen, cheer and hold-up scorecards as part of the audience in this international celebration of spoken-wordsmiths.  Electrify us. Show the world how POETS RUN THIS!

This APS Heat audience will send two writers to represent Moorabool in a performance at the Victoria Final. The top 16 in the country make it to the National Final at Sydney Opera House on the 25th of October.

Want to get inspired with a slam wordshop led by a professional spoken word artist? Check out the Moorabool 2026 APS Workshop Moorabool Australian Poetry Slam (APS) Workshop with Jo Yang

Hosted by Jo Yang

Jo Yang is a Naarm based poet, high school teacher and host of an education podcast, rethinking the current education system. She was the 2022 Australian Poetry slam champion, and placed as a finalist in the World poetry slam championship. Her poetry is influenced heavily by her proud Chinese identity, and role as an educator. With often difficult topics to digest, she sees poetry as an honest means to share stories through empathy and connection.

A collection of Yang’s poetry, Mixtures, was published by Word Travels Press in 2023.

Doors open/poet sign-up at: 1pm

Slam starts at: 1.30pm

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.

See www.australianpoetryslam.com for full 2026 details.
Head to www.wordtravels.info to find out more about how you can get involved with the not-for-profit organisation presenting the annual APS.