Festival Program

You can view the full Festival Schedule now. 

(Plesse note that the program is subject to change at any time leading up to the Festival.)

Check out the Livestream Schedule if you're going to be watching online, and look at the Book Signing Schedule if you'll be with us in-person and would like to meet your favorite poet.

 

A Few Highlights

Opening Celebration: Thursday, Oct. 20, 6:30-9:10 p.m.

Don't miss a special event on the first night of the Festival! Join us at 6:30 p.m. in NJPAC's Prudential Hall for a one-of-a-kind poetry summit featuring back-to-back readings by literary legends and bestselling authors: 

Kim Addonizio, Ellen Bass, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Marilyn Chin, Sandra Cisneros, Henri Cole, Kwame Dawes, Camille T. Dungy, Nikky Finney, Carolyn Forché, Forrest Gander, Joy Harjo, Terrance Hayes, Major Jackson, Yusef Komunyakaa, Stephen Kuusisto, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Sharon Olds, Willie Perdomo, Patrick Rosal, Tom Sleigh, and Patricia Smith

 

Featured Readings

Catch these poets' featured readings in NJPAC's Prudential Hall on the following days (see the full schedule for more detailed information.)

THURSDAY, October 20

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, Kim Addonizio, Ellen Bass, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Marilyn Chin, Sandra Cisneros, Henri Cole, Kwame Dawes, Camille T. Dungy, Nikky Finney, Carolyn Forché, Forrest Gander, Joy Harjo, Terrance Hayes, Major Jackson, Yusef Komunyakaa, Stephen Kuusisto, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, Sharon Olds, Willie Perdomo, Patrick Rosal, Tom Sleigh, Patricia Smith

FRIDAY, October 21

Jan Beatty

Henri Cole

Yusef Komunyakaa

Aimee Nezhukumatathil

Patrick Rosal

SATURDAY, October 22

Kim Addonizio

Gabrielle Calvocoressi

Sandra Cisneros

Camille T. Dungy

Major Jackson

Stephen Kuusisto

Willie Perdomo

Tom Sleigh

SUNDAY, October 23

Sharon Olds

Patricia Smith