The 2026 San José Poetry Festival celebrates our own roots with most of the festivities returning to Markham House at History Park for two full days of readings and events. This year we are hosting California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick who will offer a reading of his work and he will also facilitate a writing workshop! Also on the roster is Jason Joseph Santiago Lacour, L.A. Poet Laureate Brian Sonia-Wallace, Esperanza Cabrales, Arnoldo Colibrí, Reggie Edmonds-Vasquez, Jen Siriganian and more. Join us for a mix of free Zoom events, in-person performances, and writing workshops. Saturday’s Youth Poets Laureate event will also feature Kurn Sundaram (2025-26 YPL) and Layla Krishnan (2025-26 Vice YPL), along with the finalists for the 2026-27 Youth Poet Laureate program! We are so excited for this year’s festival!
Most of the festival is FREE! A few ticketed events are here.
Admission for any ticketed event can be purchased at Markham House day of.
2026 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
7pm–9pm | San José Poetry Slam: 2026 San José Poetry Festival Edition
Featuring Reggie Edmonds-Vasquez. Doors at 6:30PM.
Wheelhouse of Willow Glen, 1173 Lincoln Avenue. Street Parking available.
$5–10 sliding scale. Buy tickets here. Admission may be purchased at the door.
This event is free to all youth aged 19 and under. No one turned away for lack of funds.
FRIDAY, AUGUST 21
4:00–5:30pm | Friday Fun Youth Poetry Workshop – FREE (No ticket needed)
Parents and children welcome to participate. Facilitated by Mighty Mike McGee.
Paper and pencils will be supplied. Willow Glen Library, 1157 Minnesota Ave, San Jose
6:30–8:30pm | ¡Cultura Poetry Night! Open Mic – Free on Zoom
A multilingual event featuring Arnoldo Colibrí and Esperanza Cabrales, guest poets, and an open mic! Everyone is welcome at this inclusive event presented by Poetry Center San José, hosted on Zoom by Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo, in partnership with La Raíz Magazine. Reserve your free ticket to receive the Zoom link.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
10am–11:30 | Writing Workshop – Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles – FREE
Facilitated by Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo. Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles is a bilingual generative poetry workshop inspired by the seven principles of the Zapatistas of the EZLN, Indigenous peoples of Chiapas, México. Reserve your free ticket to receive the Zoom link.
11am–1pm | Writing Workshop with Lee Herrick
Markham House at History Park, 635 Phelan Ave. San José. Paid parking available.
$60 for the general public, $40 for PCSJ members, students and youth 19 and under.
12pm-2pm | Beautiful Black Books – Zoom
Join us for poetry from five amazing Black Women Poets Laureate, including ! Hosted by Tshaka Campbell. Reserve your free ticket to receive the Zoom link.
3:30pm–5pm | Bauchhaar’s Poetry ‘n’ Movement
Experience the magic of a live theatrical poetry reading by the poets as the dancers weave complimenting poetry though their dance movements, as the poetic words converge in dance forms like Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Contemporary, and Modern dance. Convergence Art Center, 1345 The Alameda, San José, CA. Parking TBD.
$15 for general public, $10 for PCSJ members.
8pm–10pm | SCC Youth Poets Laureate Commencement
Doors at 7:30PM. Hillbrook Upper School, 227 N First St, San José. Street parking available
This event is free to all youth aged 19 and under and to those with a festival pass.
$20 for general public and $15 for PCSJ Members. Admission may be purchased at the door.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 28
We have booked all of our events on this day to take place at Markham House inside History Park. Come spend the day with us!
10am-1pm | Small Press Fair & Open Mic – FREE (No ticket needed)
Peruse the perfect publications provided by provincial publishers, all under the mighty oak tree in front of our beloved Markham House. Sign up with Mighty Mike to read one poem in the open mic.
Markham House at History Park, 1650 Phelan Avenue, San José
2pm-5pm | Workshop with Lucia Misch
Markham House at History Park, 1650 Phelan Avenue, San José.
Not included in Festival Pass. $35 for the general public, $25 for PCSJ members and youth 19 and under.
5pm–8pm | Closing Night Gathering at Markham House - FREE (No ticket needed, but a snack to share would be nice ;)
Not a reading, but a post-festival get together to relax and bask in the company of poets and friends. With snacks and beverages. A way to say goodbye to summer and enjoy Markham House as the sun goes down.
Follow Poetry Center San José on Facebook and Instagram for announcements about other amazing South Bay poetry events happening throughout the rest of the year. Help support Poetry Center San José by becoming a member.
San José Poetry Festival 2025 is presented by Poetry Center San José and is sponsored in part by: Festival and Cultural Affairs grants from the City of San José; a grant from SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council and also supported in part by a SVCreates National Endowment for the Arts American Rescue Plan grant; Literary Arts Emergency Fund supported by the Mellon Foundation; and with support from Anne & Mark's Art Party, and Brandenburg Family Foundation. Many thanks Four Points by Sheraton for hotel accommodations and Robertino R. Ragazza for his guidance and hospitality. We would like to acknowledge and offer our deepest gratitude to past and current venues worthy of your support: Hillbrook School, San Jose Stage, Central Park Library Santa Clara, Convergence Arts Center, SJZ Break Room, Art Boutiki, Books Inc., Caravan Lounge, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, First Unitarian Church of San José, History/San José, MACLA, Mama Kin, Recycle Bookstore, The School of Arts and Culture at Mexican Heritage Plaza, Tabard Theatre (R.I.P.), Willow Glen Public Library and Works/San José. Please support these spaces however you can. And we thank all our volunteers whose time and effort make this festival possible.
Thank you!
All of us at Poetry Center San José are grateful for your support of the San José Poetry Festival over the years. Thank you so much for showing up and really being present with us, with poetry and with our amazing guest poets and facilitators. See you at the festival!
Most truly,
2025 San José Poetry Festival Committee