Three Thursday nights a month, from Sep. – May: Victoria Poetry Project hosts Tongues of Fire, a spoken word series of open mics & poetry slams. Open mics, including a featured poet, take place on the 2nd & 4th Thu. of the month, while poetry slams take place on the 3rd Thu. of the month. Presented at the Caffè Fantastico Quadra Village Roastery.
One day only – Sat, Sep. 12, 2026: The Toronto Poetry Festival hosts the third iteration of their annual open-air event. Canadian multilingual poets read poetry & perform spoken word pieces in a serene, natural amphitheatre in Taylor Creek Park. Free admission.
One night only – Tue, Oct. 6, 2026: Vocamus Writers Community presents Poetry As Medicine, a workshop to experience the healing power of words while learning poetry by heart. Far from rote memorization, this workshop gives participants the opportunity to gradually take the poem in until it lives in their hearts – for future access, comfort & wisdom.
Last Tuesday of every month: CIUT Howl host Valentino Assenza presents a monthly poetry/spoken word open mic feature, with self-recorded submissions aired on CIUT 89.5 FM from 10:00 – 11:00 PM ET.
The third Saturday of every month: Join Guelph Spoken Word for Guelph Poetry Slam! This event includes a feature poet set, open mic and a poetry slam competition, where the winning poet takes home a cash prize of $100. Slam poets have three minutes to dazzle the panel of judges, assembled from the audience. All ages, discretion advised.
PAST EVENT: One night only – Wed, May 14, 2025: Join Station Gallery as they present Poetry Night, featuring six local poets, plus guest poet/MC Patrick Connors. Words to fill the soul, presented in an intimate art gallery setting. Free event; registration required. This event is also available for virtual attendance.
PAST EVENT: One night only: Wed, May 7, 2025 – Toronto’s First Post Office hosts Typed with Love: Mother’s Day Event. Join Toronto-based poet, typist and writer Jessica Anne Robinson as she teaches you how to create a perfect customized poem just in time for Mother's Day. Pre-registration required – spots are strictly limited! For participants 18+.
PAST EVENT: Two days only – Sat, Apr. 26 & Sun, Apr. 27, 2025: Upstart & Crow, a creative studio and literary incubator, partners with New Leaf Editions print studio for a special hands-on, two-day workshop in which attendees transform a short poem into print form. Learn the essentials of letterpress and print a broadsheet with your chosen, short poem to take home. Only six spots available!
PAST EVENT: On select Mondays until Apr. 21, 2025: The Free Library of Philadelphia celebrates the 30th anniversary of their Monday Poets poetry reading series with the theme Sankofa, a Twi word from the Akan tribe of Ghana loosely translated as, that to move forward, one must "go back and get it". Each event will be hosted by a different library, presenting a past Monday poet and introducing a new one. For adults 18+.
PAST EVENT: From Thu, Feb. 13 - Sun, Feb. 16, 2025: Verve Poetry Press presents VERVE Poetry Festival 2025, an annual, independent festival of poetry and spoken word. This year’s Festival includes 48 poets, 14 events and 16 workshops – featuring readings, workshops and lectures, plus a poetry competition and a free youth poets open mic event.
PAST EVENT: One night only – Fri, Oct 25, 2024: City Arts & Lectures hosts Ross Gay in Conversation with Aracelis Girmay. A writer who has become synonymous with joy, Ross Gay’s essays and poetry ask his readers to find delight and gratitude in the most difficult of circumstances. This event will include a poetry reading by Gay and dialogue between the two poets.
PAST EVENT: One night only – Wed, Oct. 23, 2024: Join Station Gallery as they present Poetry Night, featuring seven local poets, including guest poet John Di Leonardo. Words to fill the soul, in an intimate art gallery setting. Free event; registration required. This event is also available for virtual attendance. All ages event, with some adult content.