It is time for slam poetry to hit Nicosia again. On Monday and Tuesday the annual event will bring together poetry lovers and enthusiasts of the spoken word to enjoy performers from Cyprus and abroad competing for the top position.

Organisers Ideogramma, following the success of previous International Poetry Slams, is hosting its 8th edition at ARTos House, aiming to push poetry further by exploring new forms of expression. So, Cyprus and Nicosia folk, mark your calendars for dynamic three-minute original performances. This is the event for the island’s English-speaking community.

As in all poetry slam competitions, open mics and shows, participants take the stage to present original walk, in any language which is accompanied by on-screen translation, performed in a dramatised manner. In poetry slam, the delivery and rhythms of the words is at times even more important than the poem. Each slam poet has three minutes to present their poem in front of a five-member jury and the audience who will vote their favourite.

On Monday, the Cyprus-based poets will compete against each other and six will be selected to compete against the international poets on Tuesday night. On both nights, guest performers, out of competition, will recite their work, as always coordinated by James Mackay.

Then, on Tuesday night, the 12 poet-slammers will compete in the first round. The judging committee which this year is made up of Achilleas Kentonis, Marina Katsaris, Alexandros Chronides, Argyro Toumazou and Sofia Iordanidou, will select the six continuing in the final round. Three winners will be declared at the end of the night while the Cyprus National Champion Slammer 2025 will represent Cyprus at the EU Poetry Slam Championship, held annually in a different European country, as well as at the World Slam Championship in Paris in May 2026.

8th International Poetry Slam Cyprus

Local and international poets-slammers compete against each other with original performances. March 10-11. ARTos House, Nicosia. 7.30pm. In English. Free