Durban to Host the 5th World Slam Poetry Competition in 2026: Celebrating Global Poetic Talent and Cultural Exchange

Durban has been announced as the host city for the 5th World Slam Poetry Competition and Convention, scheduled to take place from October 5 to 11, 2026.

The annual international poetry competition is expected to feature 40 elite slam poets from 40 countries, who will come together to use the power of poetry to address pressing global challenges.

The event is said to be presented by the Centre for Creative Arts at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Poetry Africa Festival, a cornerstone event in the African performance poetry landscape.

Siphindile Hlongwa, curator of the Poetry Africa Festival, commented on the significance of hosting the event.

Hlongwa said: "While the World Slam Poetry Competition and Convention may not have the same budgets, political heavyweights, or glitterati associated with the G20 Summit held last month, the event will command the focused attention of a global youth audience in South Africa."

Hlongwa provided clarity on how competitors are selected.

“Each country has to organise a national slam championship, then submit their winner to a continental championship,” she said.

“From there, the top 10 slammers compete for the available slots and will represent the continent in the World Slam Poetry Championship.”

According to Hlongwa, each continent is represented by 10 slammers from 10 countries.

The event will be chaired by an independent international jury, and the competition structure will be the following:

Quarter-finals: One poem with a three-minute presentation, with the top 20 advancing.

Semi-finals: A themed three-minute poem, with the top 10 progressing to the finals.

The finals will consist of two rounds. In the first round, competitors will deliver a three-minute poem, and the top five will advance to the second round. The final round will also feature a three-minute poem, after which third, second, and first places will be determined.

Ismail Mahomed, Director of the Centre for Creative Arts, expressed optimism about the convention’s role in promoting cultural tourism in Durban.

“This massive global audience is an ideal platform for sponsors wanting to reach out to young, engaged, and critical audiences,” he said.

Mahomed further described Durban as a UNESCO City of Literature, adding that hosting the World Slam Poetry Competition will help consolidate the city’s international status.

“Slam poets from 40 countries participating in the World Slam Poetry Competition will help raise Durban’s international profile and contribute significantly to the city’s cultural economy,” he added.

DAILY NEWS