Mass Poetry envisions a world where poetry catalyzes understanding & connection.

Upcoming Events

A lighthouse with the text "Massachusetts Poetry Festival"

The Massachusetts Poetry Festival is a biennial celebration that presents an accomplished roster of poets across the Commonwealth and beyond. The Festival will return to Salem, MA from May 30th to June 1st, 2025, featuring readings, panel discussions, workshops, performances, open mics, multimedia events, a small press fair, and more!

Hosted by Mass Poetry, this year’s Festival features renowned headline poets Diannely Antigua, Marilyn Chin, Ross Gay, Saeed Jones, Keetje Kuipers, Danez Smith, and Felicia Zamora. More than 150 poets of various stages in their writing journey will be featured at more than 50 events held throughout the Festival.

Volunteer Now!

As we prepare to launch our 2024 - '25 programming, we're seeking volunteers to support our events and programs at GrubStreet's Center for Creative...

Mass Poetry Features on WBUR to Promote Teen Spoken Word Festival

On May 3rd, 2024, Mass Poetry's Executive Director Daniel Johnson and SW@MP (Spoken Word at Mass Poetry) and Teen Council Member Maria Zaki appeared...

Mass Poetry Promotes Teen Spoken Word Festival on CBS News

On May 3rd, 2024, Mass Poetry's Executive Director Daniel Johnson appeared on CBS News to promote our inaugural Teen Spoken Word Festival. Watch the...

Mass Poetry Teen Becomes Youth Poet Laureate of Boston

On January 27th, 2024, Parker-Vincent Alva was named Boston's next youth poet laureate. Parker-Vincent Alva is a SW@MP (Spoken Word at Mass Poetry)...

Make a gift to Mass Poetry to help us lift all voices

Make a gift to Mass Poetry today so that we can continue our work igniting imagination and nurturing creativity as we create new audiences for poetry, take poetry to the people, and inspire the next generation of writers, thinkers and leaders.

Community Programs

  • Poetry on the T
  • Raining Poetry
  • U35 Reading Series

Educational Programs

  • In-School Programming
  • Professional Development
  • Distance Learning
Mass Poetry Festival