30 Years After its Founding, Youth Speaks to Host National Poetry Slam Competition
Tears will fall, voices will raise and words will be cast to the ether like spells from the mouths of young magicians this week as Brave New Voices, the nation’s largest youth poetry slam, returns to the Bay Area.
Starting Wednesday, young artists from across the country will recite poems, lyrics and limericks at workshops and performances, culminating on Saturday with the festival’s competitive poetry slam, an annual event that began nearly three decades ago. This year, the Bay Area team will defend its title after winning the 2025 slam — its first victory since 2006.
Brave New Voices was founded in 1997 by local nonprofit Youth Speaks, which this year celebrates its 30th anniversary of promoting the power of the spoken word. Among the organization’s many alumni are Tony- and Grammy-winning actor Daveed Diggs, filmmaker Chinaka Hodge and actor Rafael Casal. The larger network of Brave New Voices alums includes Amanda Gorman, who delivered a landmark poem at President Biden’s 2021 inauguration.
The 2026 Brave New Voices lineup is stacked with top-tier names in wordsmithing, says Brave New Voices executive co-producer Bijou McDaniel. This Wednesday’s opening ceremony features well-known poet and activist aja monet, immediately followed by a showcase called ‘All Power to the Poets,’ the theme of this year’s festival.
Wednesday’s second showcase features Dr. Xavier Buck, executive director of the Dr. Huey P. Newton Foundation, as well as artists who are part of Youth Speaks national poetry fellowship. The event is inspired by the Bay Area’s legacy of activism, including the Black Panther Party, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. The goal, McDaniel says, is to allow young poets to grow politically, and see “what happens when poets go beyond the page and the stage.”
The second day of events brings people to San Francisco’s In Chan Kaajal Park for ‘Queeriosity in the Park,’ a day of activities led by Youth Speaks’ Brandon Santiago and aja monet, with topics ranging from the politics of the hyphy movement to love as a personal and political practice.
An opening plenary with aja monet, youth poet fellow Aniya Butler and DJ Charles Hawthorne will be moderated by podcast host Isa Nakazawa to discuss the intersection of art and activism. Live performances from the likes of Soho Tisci Vogue Class, Azteca Dancers and Oakland Originalz keep things lively, along with a drag story hour from San Francisco Drag Laureate Per Sia.
“Day three,” McDaniel exclaims, “is what everybody came for.” The semifinals of the Brave New Voices Poetry Slam, hosted at multiple venues across downtown Oakland, will run from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. That night brings two more events: “MC Olympics,” guest-judged by West Oakland rapper and entrepreneur Guapdad, and a fundraiser at the Starline Social Club hosted by Shannon Matesky and showcasing the talents of Youth Speaks alums including Jwalt, Tia Nomore, Ajai Kasim and Jada Imani. “And,” McDaniel adds, “we have Tank from Tank and the Bangas headlining that.”
The final day of the four-day series centers the Brave New Voices Poetry Slam finals at San Francisco’s Herbst Theater. As the newest poet champions compete for this year’s crown, the evening includes performances by San Francisco Poet Laureate Genny Lim and singer Serpentwithfeet.
“I know, that’s a lot,” says McDaniel preparing for the week ahead. “And next year we’re celebrating Brave New Voices’ 30th, which is crazy to think about.”
Brave New Voices runs Wednesday, July 15, through Saturday, July 18 at various venues around the Bay Area. Most events are all-ages and free to attend. Tickets, RSVPs and more information here.