Join Mass Poetry at our second annual Teen Spoken Word Festival, Write Here | Write Now | Speak Loud! on March 15th and 16th in Downtown Boston! Registration is now open. Read on to register, learn more about our festival offerings, and discover how to get involved and support us. A big thank you to everyone who attended Write Here | Write Now | Speak Loud! in 2024. We are so grateful for all the incredible poets, educators, volunteers, Mass Poetry staff members, and more who made our inaugural Teen Spoken Word Festival such a meaningful event, and hope to see you in 2025!
Overview
Join us for our second annual Write Here | Write Now | Speak Loud! – Mass Poetry’s Teen Spoken Word Festival. This two-day, statewide event will take place on March 15th – 16th, 2025, in Downtown Boston. The Festival has three tracks of events and activities for teens to participate: our non competitive events, Team Slam, and Individual Slam!
The Teen Spoken Word Festival is all about creating space for teens to let their voices be heard—whether you’re competing or soaking in the excitement! In addition to our Team and Individual Slams, this year’s festival offers a dynamic lineup of non-competitive events crafted to inspire, empower, and connect young voices from all backgrounds.
The Festival will feature workshops covering a wide range of topics, headliners to light up our stage, a last chance slam, open mics, and more. Our Artists’ Resource Fair is also returning, offering attendees the chance to engage with community organizers and a diverse range of artists who launched their creative journeys through poetry. There’s something at the festival for everyone to enjoy and explore! Register now! Check out our schedule for a full list of events!
Mission & Values
This is a festival of joining communities rooted in Massachusetts’ rich history of spoken word poetry.
This is a festival of presence — let’s be here in this moment with our minds and our bodies. “If you’re not here, you’re in the wrong place.”
We want to hear what you have to say. This is a festival of raising your voice with intention. This is a festival of actively listening. This is a festival of sharing space and sharing stories.
Get Involved
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who can attend the festival?
There are certain events that are for individuals ages 19 and under ONLY, and there are certain events that are for all ages.
The following events are for ages 19 and under:
- Workshops, open mics, and other non-competitive events taking place on Saturday
- Participation in the Team Slam and the Individual Slam (both require pre-registration)
- Artists’ Resource Fair (*Please Note – adults may attend with an “Adult Chaperone” add-on ticket, secured via Eventbrite)
The following events are for all ages:
- Audience Access to the Team Slam Preliminaries and Finals taking place on Saturday
- Audience Access to the Individual Slam Finals taking place on Sunday
Where can I find the schedule/list of events?
VISIT SCHED for the full schedule and festival details!
In which events can teens participate?
All events taking place at the Festival. Please note that in order to compete in the Individual and/or Team Slam, you must register beforehand. You can do so here. The deadline for Team Slam Registration is February 14.
In which events can adults (20+) participate?
Adults can register to watch the Saturday Day Team Slam Preliminaries, Saturday Night Team Slam Finals, and Sunday Night Individual Slam Finals. The other events (workshops, *Artists’ Resource Fair, etc.) are for teens (ages 19 and under) only. *Please note: teens can invite adults to accompany them to the Artists’ Resource Fair. Specifications on the Artists’ Resource Fair, along with other events, are available HERE.
Do I have to pay to attend?
There is no set fee to attend the Festival. Our goal is to offer accessible poetic opportunities to as many teens as possible. We do suggest that adults who attend slam performances offer a donation of $25 to $50 — help us elevate the voices of Massachusetts Youth! Donate HERE.
What kinds of slam competitions are there?
There will be two types of Slam competitions at the Teen Spoken Word Festival: a Team Slam Competition and an Individual Slam Competition. Only teens (ages 13-19) can participate in the Slam Competitions.
- The Team Slam, taking place on Saturday, March 15th, is for registered teams of teens. In order to compete, Teen Poets must be part of a slam team that has registered previously via our Team Registration Form. The deadline for Team Registration is February 14th. This is a one-off event, meaning the winners of this slam will NOT go on to participate in anything beyond this slam.
- The Individual Slam, taking place on Sunday, March 16th, is a qualifying slam in which individual teens can compete for a spot on the Mass Poetry team that will be competing at the Brave New Voices Festival in July 2025. To qualify for the Individual Slam on March 16th, Teens Poets must have participated in one of the preliminary slam competitions, hosted by Mass Poetry and our partners in locations across Massachusetts throughout January, February, and March. Details on those preliminary slams are coming soon. The top four poets of each of these preliminary slams will compete at the festival on March 16th.
For more information, check out our Slam page.
What rules are there for the slam competitions?
Besides the slam competitions, what other events can I attend?
There are plenty of non-competitive events! There will be artistic workshops, an Artists’ Resource Fair for students to explore career opportunities and avenues in the arts, a Poetry & Ice Cream Open Mic, and more! These events are for registered teens ages 19 and under. Slam Competition Viewing is open to the general public.
To see the complete schedule, click HERE!
How can I get to the Festival
More information on location venues in Downtown Boston coming soon!
Where can I park?
See above for directions and parking information.
What are the accessibility specifications of the festival locations?
Our Downtown Boston venues will be accessible. For more information on GrubStreet, click HERE. More information is to come with regards to Downtown Boston venue accessibility. Certain events will have ASL interpreters. If you have any questions regarding accessibility, please contact katie@masspoetry.org.