Graz to host Europe’s poetry slam championship for first time

Graz will host the European Poetry Slam Championship for the first time from November 19 to 21, ORF reported. The “Euros 26” will take place at Next Liberty, with performers representing 28 countries, including Austria’s current champion, Lia Hartl.

The competition opens on November 19 with a slam revue featuring reigning European champion Valerio Moser of Switzerland and Styrian champion Vali Georgieva. The opening will also include a rules video made for the championship and performed by ORF presenter Armin Wolf. Tickets for the event are limited.

Semifinals on the following two days will decide the 10 finalists. More than 1,000 tickets are available across the events, and a livestream will be offered for those unable to get a ticket.

Performers will have a strict four-minute limit and will present their texts in a range of languages, usually their mother tongue. German translations will appear on a screen, though organisers said rhythm and physical performance are central to poetry slam.

The championship is organised by Slam Kollektiv Graz and Katharina Wenty, a slam poet and presenter from Lower Austria who co-founded the World Poetry Slam Organisation in 2021. Panels during the festival will give representatives from the participating countries opportunities to learn and network. Those who reach the final will also receive a ticket to the next Poetry Slam World Championship in Tokyo.