Spoken Word takes centre stage as 18 advance in National Poetry Slam 2026

After an unforgettable weekend of auditions, 18 contenders have advanced to the semifinal of the National Poetry Slam 2026, following powerful performances from over 70 performance poets from across Trinidad and Tobago. The selected poets will perform at the National Poetry Slam semifinal, on Sunday, March 29, at the Central Bank Auditorium.

A release from the Bocas Lit Fest said that on March 7 at the Scarborough Library, Tobago, and on March 8 at the National Library (NALIS) in Port-of-Spain, auditions took place, bringing together emerging and returning spoken word artistes eager to compete for the country’s most celebrated spoken word title. The auditions attracted 12 new poets under the age of 18, the most the championship has seen in many years.

The release stated that the Grand Slam final, which takes place on Sunday, May 3 at Sound Forge, will occupy its traditional place as the energy-packed closing event of the Bocas Lit Fest, T&T’s annual festival of stories and ideas.

The annual National Poetry Slam has been a signature project of the Bocas Lit Fest since 2012. The Bocas Lit Fest said over the last decade, with the sponsorship and support of First Citizens, the poetry slam has grown into the largest spoken word showcase in the Anglophone Caribbean—a vital platform for bold storytelling, artistic innovation, and the emergence of new voices shaping the cultural future of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider region. It added that despite the withdrawal of First Citizens as sponsor, the Slam returns this year in a new format grounded in its continued dedication to strengthening the spoken word artform and empowering young poets.

“This year’s auditions showcased an impressive mix of new and returning talent, proving that the spoken word championship continues to attract fresh voices while keeping seasoned veterans engaged,” said Georgia Popplewell, managing director of Bocas Lit Fest.

The 18 contenders advancing to the National Poetry Slam 2026 semifinals are Derron Sandy, Alicia Psyche Haynes, Seth Sylvester, Alexandra Stewart, Camryn Bruno, Cheyenne Calliste, Colleen Cleghorn, Crystal St Hillaire, Geron Ruiz, Jabari Collins, Johchele Johnson, Kyla Wilson, Miguel Jagarnath, Renaldo Briggs, Rickibah Isaac, Ronaldo Mohammed, Shimiah Lewis, and Winston Trotman. The standby poets are Dershawn Hernandez and Shakira Burton. Prizes for the National Poetry Slam 2026 are: first place—$25,000; second place—$15,000, and third place—$8,000.

Guiding the judging process on the road to the National Poetry Slam 2026 title are Chief Judge Jean-Claude Cournand, alongside Shivanee Ramlochan, Kwame Weekes, Patti-Anne Ali, and Mtima Solwazi, whose expertise and insight helped shape the selection of the semifinalists.