In the southwest, if you say the word cicada, most people won't know what you mean. Around here we call these little beauties chicharras. (pronounced Chee-char-ah)

In 2024, the year of our inaugural event, the world saw a rare dual emergence - two massive broods of cicadas emerging at the same time - an event which only happens every 221 years.

We like to think our own emergence was a similarly beautiful occurrence.

Like the emergence of cicadas, the Chicharra Poetry Festival is a spring phenomenon, filling the trees and our city streets with the music of life emerging from deep underground.

For four days, poets from across the country gather in Albuquerque for readings, workshops, craft conversations, poetry slam, open mics, performances, books, art, youth programming, and community—a celebration of the many ways poetry lives in the world.

We believe poetry belongs on the page and the stage, in classrooms and bookstores, in theaters and neighborhoods, in quiet rooms and loud ones. Chicharra creates space for extraordinary national talent while building connections among poets of different traditions, generations, identities, and ways of making poems.

We believe every human being has the right to live without fear, apology, or shame—and that our poetry community should make room for all of us.

Whether you come to compete, read, learn, listen, perform, browse books, meet other writers, or simply spend four days surrounded by poetry, you're invited.

-You can expect:

• Four days and nights of poetry throughout Albuquerque 
• Featured readings and special performances 
• Workshops and craft conversations 
• Southwest Regional team and individual poetry slam competition 
• Themed readings and open mics 
• Book market 
• Youth programming 
• Showcases and community events 
• Breaking Bread, our poet-family picnic 
• Free daytime programming 
• And the chance to explore the extraordinary cultural history and high-desert landscape of New Mexico 

Plus a few surprises we're not ready to tell you about yet.