The Goethe-Institut’s Word N Sound Poetry League: Join the Third Round of this Poetic Showdown Happening this July

Get ready for the ultimate poetic showdown as Season 11 of the Word N Sound Poetry League is in full swing, having kicked off on 1 March 2025, running bi-monthly until 1 November 2025 with the Back to Basics theme—no props, no music, just raw talent, bold words, and the mic. Now’s your chance to participate in the third round being hosted on 5 July 2025. Here’s what you need to know.

A poet at Goethe-Institut's Word N Sound Poetry League Season 11

What to expect from Word N Sound Poetry League

The iconic bi-monthly Word N Sound Poetry League platform invites seasoned poets and newcomers to battle it out, accumulate points, and aim for the grand finale in November. Interested poets must arrive early at Goethe-Institut on Saturday, 5 July and register by adding their names to the list. Entrants get 5 minutes on stage, and a panel of their peers will score their performance.

The winner of the night takes home a cash prize, but every point earned counts toward qualifying for the final showdown in November, where the 2025 Word N Sound Poetry League Champion will be crowned.

Following the launch on 1 March, the season schedule continues as follows:

Round 2 – 3 May
Round 3 – 5 July
Round 4 – 6 September
Final Showdown – 1 November

Cost: R50 entry

When: Round 3— Saturday, 5 July 2025 from 12pm to 5pm. Runs until 1 November 2025
Where: Goethe-Institut South Africa, 119 Jan Smuts Ave, Parkwood, Johannesburg

More about the Goethe-Institut

The Goethe-Institut aims to cultivate international and local cultural exchange through the arts, sciences and languages. With over 100 institutes worldwide, and 14 in the sub-Saharan region, including the one in Johannesburg, the Goethe-Institut is committed to fostering transnational diversity, understanding and trust.

Their Cultural Programmes Department focuses on a variety of different artistic approaches from the visual arts to drama, dance, literature, film, and others to support the local cultural scenes and strengthen pan-African dialogue through the arts.