Calling All Fearless Young Poets: Step Up to the Mic at the 2025 Roundhouse Poetry Slam

Here’s the challenge: do you have the guts to own the stage, not just as a poet but as a truth-teller? The Roundhouse Poetry Slam is back, and it’s not interested in shallow rhymes or empty applause—it wants poets with something to say. If you’re aged 18–25 and ready to prove your work deserves to be heard, this is your moment.

Forget clichés about “finding your voice.” This is about shaping your voice and standing among the fiercest young wordsmiths in the UK. With heats in cities like London, Bristol, Leeds, and Liverpool (plus an online option), and a finale in the iconic Roundhouse Main Space on 17 April 2025, this competition is your shot at the big stage.

But let’s cut to the chase: it’s not just about performing.

What You’ll Fight For

• Cash Prizes: £2,000 for the winner. Runners-up and the people’s choice get their share too. Every finalist walks away with at least £100.
• Professional Spotlight: Your words, captured on video and broadcast to thousands. Past performances have racked up millions of views.
• Connections That Matter: The judges aren’t just names—they’re institutions in poetry and performance. Shortlisters Travis Alabanza and Jacob Sam-La Rose have redefined what poetry can do. Do you belong in that conversation?
• The Legacy: Winning isn’t just a trophy moment. It’s mentorship, professional development, and a launchpad for your next chapter.

How to Enter

The deadline is Monday 3 February at 10am, and every second matters. If you make the shortlist, you’ll be invited to compete in one of the heats:

• Liverpool: 6 March
• Leeds: 7 March
• Bristol: 20 March
• London: 11–13 March
• Online: Date TBC

The final showdown? 17 April at the Roundhouse. Bring your A-game.

Preparation is Power

Not sure if you’re ready? The free Poetry Slam Prep Workshop on 27 January will arm you with the tools to write and perform with impact. Don’t just think about it—book it.

This isn’t a call for poets who play it safe. It’s for those who risk something onstage, who leave it all in the performance. If you’ve got the courage to stand up and speak out, the Roundhouse is waiting.

Click the link, read the details, and then take your shot: Roundhouse Poetry Slam 2025.

This isn’t just poetry. It’s a reckoning.