Program

• 

  The Poetry Barber

  Come listen in while spoken word artist Benzokarim gets a fresh look from a Rotterdam barber

  Poets:

  • Benzokarim (NLD)

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Program

• 

  Workshop: Sign Language Performance

  Create your own performance in sign language (with Rafael Evitan Grombelka) (Separate ticket required)

  Poets:

  • Rafael Evitan Grombelka (DEU)

  English

  

  Dag: SundayType: Workshop

  Interpreter NGT/Transcription Interpreter

  This event features a sign language interpreter

• 

  

  Main Reading: Kreek Daey Ouwens & Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad

  Two distinctive poets share their best work (host: Jelle van Riet)

  Poets:

  • Kreek Daey Ouwens (NLD)
  • Nisrine Mbarki Ben Ayad (NLD)

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Reading
• 

  in m’n buurt

  Performance packed with young talent, curated by youth Poet Laureate Oumaima Yahiaoui

  Poets:

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Collaboration

• 

  Workshop: Storytelling & Poetry

  Sharpen your story with guidance from storyteller Sahand Sahebdivan (Separate ticket required)

  Poets:

  • Mezrab (NLD)

  English

  

  Dag: SundayType: Workshop
• 

  Presentation: Poetic Sequences 

  A new generation of sign language poets presents their performances

  Poets:

  Dag: SundayType: Performance

  Interpreter NGT/Transcription Interpreter

  This event features a sign language interpreter
• 

  Words on the Street Art Tour ‘The Beautiful South’

  Join poet Wessel Klootwijk on a poetry discovery bike ride

  Poets:

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Tour
• 

  Uitreiking Johan Polak Poëzieprijs

  Which poetry collection of the past three years will win the most prestigious poetry prize in the Netherlands?

  Poets:

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Collaboration

• 

  

  Short Reading: Pia Tafdrup & Radmila Petrović

  Bite-size readings by three festival poets

  Poets:

  • Radmila Petrović (SRB)
  • Pia Tafdrup (DNK)

  English

  

  Dag: SundayType: Reading
• 

  Translating Together: A Live Experiment

  Translate a poem together with professional translators

  Poets:

  English

  

  Dag: SundayType: Program
• 

  Meet the Foyer

  Discover the vibrant heart of the festival

  Poets:

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Program

  Interpreter NGT/Transcription Interpreter

  This event features a sign language interpreter
• 

  The Signed Poetry Quiz

  A quiz that will make you see and listen differently

  Poets:

  Dag: SundayType: Program

  Interpreter NGT/Transcription Interpreter

  This event features a sign language interpreter
• 

  Rap als Poëtische Praktijk

  Hip-hop researcher Kim Dankoor on how poetry and hip-hop connect

  Poets:

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Collaboration

• 

  

  Main Reading: Iya Kiva & Raúl Cisneros

  Twee eigenzinnige dichters dragen hun beste werk voor (host: Jelle van Riet)

  Poets:

  • Raúl Cisneros (PER)
  • Iya Kiva (UKR)

  English

  

  Dag: SundayType: Reading

• 

  

  Het gedicht is een bericht

  Unveiling the very first poetic line in sign language on a Rotterdam waste truck

  Poets:

  • Sam Onclin (NLD)
  • Boaz Blume (NLD)

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Collaboration

  Interpreter NGT/Transcription Interpreter

  This event features a sign language interpreter

• 

  Keynote: Deafness as a Lens

  Mirthe Berentsen on how deafness can change your view of the world

  Poets:

  • Mirthe Berentsen (NLD)

  Dag: SundayType: Performance

  Interpreter NGT/Transcription Interpreter

  This event features a sign language interpreter

• 

  

  Main Performance: Zoë McWhinney & Rafael Evitan Grombelka

  Where sign language, theatre, and poetry meet

  Poets:

  • Zoë McWhinney (GBR)
  • Rafael Evitan Grombelka (DEU)

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Performance

  Interpreter NGT/Transcription Interpreter

  This event features a sign language interpreter

• 

  Mezrab: Storytelling Showcase

  Three experienced storytellers merge poetry and storytelling

  Poets:

  • Mezrab (NLD)

  English

  

  Dag: SundayType: Program

• 

  

  

  

  Street Poetry & Activism

  Travel through the streets (and street poems) of Lima, Istanbul, and Rome

  Poets:

  • Kreek Daey Ouwens (NLD)
  • Raúl Cisneros (PER)
  • Hasan Gök (NLD)
  • +1

  English

  

  Dag: SundayType: Panel
• 

  The Poetry Barber

  Get a fresh cut and share your story at the Poetry Barbershop

  Poets:

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Program

• 

  

  

  

  

  

  Woorden Worden Zinnen #70

  We close off the festival with international and Rotterdam talent, plus barbecue, music, and you!

  Poets:

  • Lynthia Julius (ZAF)
  • Dario Goldbach (NLD)
  • Oumaima Yahiaoui (NLD)
  • +2

  Dutch

  

  Dag: SundayType: Program

• 

  

  

  

  Showcase: Ways of Seeing

  Sign language, Visual Vernacular & spoken word share the stage

  Poets:

  • Zoë McWhinney (GBR)
  • Mirthe Berentsen (NLD)
  • Sogand Afshar (AFG+NLD)
  • +1

  Dag: SundayType: Performance

  Interpreter NGT/Transcription Interpreter

  This event features a sign language interpreter

• 

  

  Codarts x Poetry International: Poetic Compositions

  Codarts students transform festival poets’ work into new musical pieces

  Poets:

  • Melanie Mununggurr (AUS)
  • Nadine Rypkema (NLD)

  English

  

  Dag: SundayType: Music
• 

  The Last Poem

  The very last poem of Poetry International Festival 2026!

  Poets:

  English

  

  Dag: SundayType: Reading

  Interpreter NGT/Transcription Interpreter

  This event features a sign language interpreter