Southern Fried Poetry Slam is an annual performing arts festival celebrating poetry, spoken word, and community outreach.

Born in 1993 from a sense of family, home cooked meals and good ol’ Southern food, Southern Fried Poetry shares the absolute best southern offerings — hospitality, comfort and tradition.

During the first week of June every year, a city in the Southeastern region of the United States plays host to one of the largest Spoken Word and Performance Poetry tournaments in the world and showcases some of the world’s most extraordinary writers, orators and artists whose talents will be on full display as they compete against 200+ poets for cash and prizes, and of course bragging rights to the South!

Our 31st annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam is underway! Below is all you need to keep you updated. Scores, event guide, and more!