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)
       

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]. 

 

 

 

 

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