2026 Festival Schedule (in progress)
A Huge Congratulations to our winners for 2025 - Individual Champion, Black Chakra & Team Champions, Spotlight Poetry!
(Check out our Past Champions page for a list of all the Finalists!)
Chicharra Poetry Slam Festival: 4-Day Calendar
All events are free, except the Champions Stage on Saturday, March 21 (tickets $25)
Day 1: Early Bird Events (Wednesday, March 18) - If you are local or in town early
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM |The Sound of Cicadas Reading & Roundtable
- Albuquerque Museum
- 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Early Bird Open Mic
- Red Door Brewing
Day 2: (Thursday, March 19)
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Poet Orientation (competing poets & volunteers)
- Explora
- 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Preliminary Bouts 1-3
- Outpost 1706, Church Street Café &
- 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Preliminary Bouts 4-6
- Outpost 1706, Church Street Café &
- 10:30 PM – 11:30 PM | Gigi Bella: Big Feelings
Day 3: (Friday, March 20)
(All workshops & Open Mics held at Explora)
- 10:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Workshops
- Michael Jasso – “What Teachers Make” (10 am)
- LadyK - Slam Strategies & Taking Your Slam Career to the Next Level (11:30 am)
- Brennan DeFrisco –“New Shit: Freestyle Poetry & the Infinite Rough Draft” (1 pm)
- 10:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Open Mics
- Visible/Invisible Disabilities Open Mic - Hosted by Sam Brown (10 am)
- LGBTQ+ Open Mic - Hosted by Emily Tucker (11:30 am)
- Trans & Non-Binary Open Mic – Hosted by Evris Oake (1 pm)
- 2:30 PM – 04:00 PM | Haiku Head-to-Head
- Secret Gallery
- 6:00 PM – 08:00 PM | Preliminary Bouts 7 – 9
- Outpost 1706, Church Street Café & Albuquerque Museum
- 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM | Preliminary Bouts 10-12
- Outpost 1706, Church Street Café & Albuquerque Museum
- 10:30 PM – Whenever| Speaking of Sex Erotica Open Mic & Burlesque
- Albuquerque Social Club, (21+ only)
- Albuquerque Social Club, (21+ only)
Day 4: (Saturday, March 21)
(All Workshops & Open Mics held at Explora)
- 10:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Book Market
- Explora
- 10:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Workshops
- Chelsea Guevara - "Retracing Our Steps" (10 am)
- Anthony Azzarito – “Poetry Heals” (11:30 am)
- Working Classroom Workshop
- 10:00 AM – 2:15 PM | Open Mics
- Veteran's Open Mic - Host Daniel Garwood (10 am)
- Lengua Viva – A Latinx / Chicanx / Indigenous Open Mic - Hosted by Michael Jasso (11:30 am)
- Black Poets Open Mic - Hosted by LadyK (1 pm)
- 2:30 PM – 04:30 PM | Nerd Slam
- Secret Gallery
- 07:00 PM – 10:00 PM |Champions Stage (Finals)
- Historic Lobo Theater
- 10:30 PM – 12:30 PM | Underground Slam
- Will be shared with poets
Voices Rising Youth Events
(All youth events are held at Explora)
- 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | Workshop 1
- 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM | Workshop 2
- 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM | Lunch
- 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM | Youth Slam
Day 5: (Sunday, March 22) - If you’re still in town and want one more chance to connect with community
11:00 AM – Whenever | Breaking Bread: Poets Picnic
- Red Door Brewing
Venue List:
- Explora - 1701 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
- Albuquerque Museum - 2000 Mountain Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
- Red Door Brewing - 509 Central Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
- Outpost 1706 - 301 Romero St NW Suite 205, Albuquerque, NM 87104
- Church Street Café - 2111 Church St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87104
- Secret Gallery - 717 Central Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 (in the host hotel)
- Albuquerque Social Club - 4021 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108
- Historic Lobo Theater - 3013 Central Ave NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
Tips for Attendees
- Timezone: All times are in MST.
- Check the website: for more specific details on events, updated scores & more
- Stay Updated: Follow the live schedule changes on our [Link to Website].
