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 the incoming Youth Poet Laureate and Vice Laureate, 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 some ticketed events can be purchased day of.
2026 FESTIVAL SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, AUGUST 16
7pm–9pm | San José Poetry Slam: 2026 San José Poetry Festival Edition
Featuring Reggie Edmonds-Vasquez. Sign-up for the slam 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.
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 – Zoom – FREE (No ticket needed)
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, AUGUST 22
10am–12:30pm | Writing Workshop with Lee Herrick
Workshop title: I've Been Here and Never Been Here: Writing Poems About Place and Displacement. Held at History Park in the Renzel Room, 1650 Senter Road, San José. Paid parking available in Kelly Park Lot on Senter Road. $60 for the general public, $40 for PCSJ members, students and youth 19 and under.
11am-12:30pm Pacific | Beautiful Black Books – Zoom – FREE (No ticket needed)
Join us for poetry from five amazing Black poets and authors! Featuring Alyesha Wise, Lem “Saint” Gonsalves, Ainsley Burrows, and Rico Frederick. Hosted by Tshaka Campbell. RSVP for the Zoom link here
12:30pm–2pm | Santa Clara County Youth Poet Laureate Commencement
Our third night of poetry will introduce Santa Clara County to the incoming 2026-27 Youth Poet Laureate Sierra Elman and the 2026-27 Vice Youth Poet Laureate Rohan Mahapatra! Outgoing 2025-26 Youth Poet Laureate Kurn Sundaram will read a couple of poems to pass the baton. Held on the Markham House front lawn at History Park.
FREE (No ticket needed)
2:15pm–pm | Reading: Poets of Resistance - FREE (No ticket needed)
This reading features poets Jen Siraganian, Deema Shehabi, Farnaz Fatemi and Nathalie Khankan. This event is free to the public. History Park in the Renzel Room.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 23
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–2pm | 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 the host to read one poem in the open mic. Under the oak tree at Markham House at History Park, 1650 Phelan Avenue, San José
2pm–4pm | Reading: Poets of Poetry Slam - FREE (No ticket needed)
This is the closing event of the 2026 festival! Featuring readings by “Poets who started with Slam” including our very own slam master Scorpiana Xlent, Bay Area legend Joseph Jason Santiago LaCour and Poet Laureate of Los Angeles Brian Sonia-Wallace. Today’s small press fair and reading take place inside History Park, under the oak tree in front of Markham House.
The 2026 San José Poetry Festival would not be possible without the support of the organizations above.
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 2026 is presented by Poetry Center San José and sponsored in part by a Cultural Affairs grant from the City of San José; a grant from SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council; and additional support from Anne & Mark’s Art Party and the Brandenburg Family Foundation. Many thanks to 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: San José Stage, Central Park Library Santa Clara, Convergence Arts Center, SJZ Break Room, Art Boutiki (R.I.P.), Books Inc., Caravan Lounge, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, First Unitarian Church of San José, History/San José, MACLA, Cafe Stritch / Mama Kin (R.I.P.), Recycle Bookstore, The School of Arts and Culture (R.I.P.), Mexican Heritage Plaza, Tabard Theatre (R.I.P.), Willow Glen Public Library, Works/San José art & performance center and Hillbrook Upper School of San José. Please support these spaces however you can. And we thank all our volunteers whose time and effort make this festival possible.
3pm–4:15pm | Writing Workshop – Palabras & Poetry: Zapatista Principles
This free creative poetry workshop will be facilitated by local poet Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo as a part of the 2026 San Jose Poetry Festival! 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. To be held upstairs in the Firehouse at History Park. Elevator accessible.
Free, but seats are limited. Reserve yours here
4:30pm–6pm | Reading: Lee Herrick, Solange Aguilar + Brandon Luu
Join us in front of Markham House inside History Park for readings by California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, Brandon Luu and Solange Aguilar. To be held on the lawn under the oak tree. FREE (No ticket needed)
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,
2026 San José Poetry Festival Committee