The Goethe-Institut’s Word N Sound Poetry League Returns with Season 12

The Word N Sound Poetry League is one of South Africa’s leading spoken word platforms, bringing together emerging and established poets in a vibrant live slam series. For over a decade, it has been a home for bold voices, powerful performance, and poetic excellence.

Now in Season 12, the League runs monthly from April to November 2026, creating a journey of competition, creativity, and community, before culminating in December with the Word N Sound Poetry Festival, a three-day celebration of spoken word and live literature.

Word n Sound Poetry League | What's on in Joburg

What to expect from Word N Sound Poetry League

Join for the electrifying 12th Season of the Word N Sound Poetry League, where 20 poets compete for the top spot, followed by two phenomenal poetry showcases. Winners of each poetry slam can win up to R2000 in cash or in Bitcoin.

Participants must bring one five-minute poem and sign up on the day. Sign-up sheet opens from 10am. Every point you earn counts toward the road to the Season 12 Finale, where the top five poets will battle for the crown.

Expect an afternoon of raw poetic power, rhythm and truth.

The Word N Sound Poetry League schedule for the rest of 2026:

Round 6 — 12 September
Round 7 — 3 October
Round 8 — 14 November
Poetry festival — 11 to 13 December

Cost: R50 entry. Book via Webtickets

When: Next round— Saturday, 12 September 2026 from 1pm
Where: Kippies, The Market Theatre, 138 Lilian Ngoyi St, Newtown, 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.