Spoken Word Poetry Contest 2026, Slam Poem Entries
Quick answer: Enter Writory's monthly spoken word poetry contest. Submit the written text of your performance piece, judged on five criteria, cash prizes, results monthly.
You wrote it to be heard, and it deserves to be read too. Writory's monthly contest welcomes the written text of spoken word and slam pieces, poems built on repetition, momentum, and a voice that will not sit still. Entries open on the 1st of every month and close on the 25th, results arrive on the 30th, winners take cash prizes, and every poet receives a participation certificate.
Every piece you submit earns a five-criteria score breakdown in your profile: creativity, emotion, structure, language, and theme. Slam pieces, performance poems, rants, and anthems are all welcome in written form, and you compete alongside poets from more than 50 countries around the world.
Writory's monthly international poetry contest accepts the written text of spoken word and slam pieces, with cash prizes and a five-criteria score for every entry.
Why enter
- Performance energy on the page is respected: repetition, call-backs, and rhythmic drive count toward your structure and language scores.
- Submit the written text of your piece, no recording needed, the poem itself carries the performance.
- A fresh contest every month, twelve chances a year to put your loudest work in front of judges.
- No theme restrictions: identity, protest, heartbreak, comedy, whatever fills the room when you perform it.
- An international stage with poets from 50+ countries, far beyond your local open mic.
What winners and entrants receive
- Cash prizes for the monthly winners.
- Winners receive free entry into next month's contest.
- A participation certificate for every single entrant.
- The top 10 pieces feature on the monthly leaderboard.
Slam poems, performance pieces, spoken word monologues, and rhythm-driven verse are all welcome as written text.
Key facts
- Entries open the 1st, close the 25th at 11:59 PM IST, results on the 30th.
- One poem $5, two poems $8, five poems $15 (Rs 150 / Rs 220 / Rs 450 in India).
- Every poem scored by human judges on five criteria: creativity, emotion, structure, language and theme.
- A participation certificate for every entrant, not only winners, and the score is visible in your profile.
- Cash prizes for winners, free entry the following month for winners, open worldwide from age 13, any language.
Questions
Do I need to submit an audio or video recording?
No. Writory accepts the written text of your spoken word piece. Write it the way you perform it, with the line breaks and emphasis you would give it on stage.
How is spoken word judged fairly on the page?
Every entry is scored on five criteria: creativity, emotion, structure, language, and theme. Judges read for the drive and voice that make spoken word work, and you see the full breakdown in your profile.
What does it cost to enter?
The entry fee is small and is shown in your local currency on the submit page. Every entrant receives a participation certificate, and three consecutive months of participation earns a free entry.
When are the results announced?
Entries open on the 1st of each month and close on the 25th. Results are announced on the 30th, and winners receive free entry into the next month's contest.
By the Writory editorial team. Updated July 2026.
Enter the September contest · All poetry competitions 2026: deadlines & prizes · International poetry contest · Past winners · Read the winning poems