Program

Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday

The Word Club Open Mic: Streetlife

Come listen to new voices (and share your own story!)
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Collaboration
Main Reading: Aase Berg

Hassnae Bouazza in conversation with two distinctive poetic voices
Poets:
Aase Berg (SWE)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Reading
Workshop: Poëzie schrijven

Turn everyday moments into poetry (Separate ticket required)
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Workshop
Guiding Voices x Poetry International: Aracelis Girmay

Ernest van der Kwast in conversation with Aracelis Girmay
Poets:
Aracelis Girmay (USA)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Origin Stories

How, where, and when did these poets begin their poetic journey?
Poets:
Pia Tafdrup (DNK)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
The Poetry Nail Salon

If poetry is everywhere, why not wear it on your nails?
Poets:
Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Short Reading: Aracelis Girmay, Melanie Mununggurr & Raúl Cisneros

Bite-sized readings by three festival poets
Poets:
Raúl Cisneros (PER)
Aracelis Girmay (USA)
Melanie Mununggurr (AUS)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Main Reading: Caleb Femi & Radmila Petrović

Two distinctive poets share their best work (host: Jelle van Riet)
Poets:
Caleb Femi (NGA+GBR)
Radmila Petrović (SRB)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Reading
Writingplace x Poetry International: Poetics of Place

Poets and architects on space and imagination
Poets:
Eline van Leeuwen (NLD)
Erik Lindner (NLD)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Local Voices

Rotterdam’s got (poetic) talent
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Buddingh’ Talent

Discover the four nominees for the 2026 C. Buddingh’ Prize
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Main Reading: Jörgen UNOM Gario & Lynthia Julius

Two distinctive poets share their best work (host: Geoffrey van der Ven)
Poets:
Jörgen Gario (SXM+NLD)
Lynthia Julius (ZAF)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Reading
Can you desire courage from poets?

Yousra Benfquih, Hendri Yulius Wijaya, and Iya Kiva on the poet’s responsibility
Poets:
Hendri Yulius Wijaya (IDN)
Iya Kiva (UKR)
Yousra Benfquih (BEL)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
The Poetry Debate

Hosted by Ellen Deckwitz, with no room for nuance
Poets:
Caleb Femi (NGA+GBR)
Hannah K Bründl (AUT)
Joost Baars (NLD)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
The Poetry Nail Salon

If poetry is everywhere, why not wear it on your nails?
Poets:
Dominique De Groen (BEL)
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Switch Lit x Poetry International: Mystery Poet Collab

Two well-known poets, one collaborative poem
Poets:
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Rozen verwelken, schepen vergaan: over poesiealbums

A trip down poetic memory lane with Sophie Reinders and Iduna Paalman
Poets:
Iduna Paalman (NLD)
Sophie Reinders (NLD)
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Codarts x Poetry International: Poetic Compositions

Codarts students transform festival poets’ work into new musical pieces
Poets:
Jan Wagner (DEU)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Music
The Last Poem

Wrap up the festival’s Saturday with a final poem by Dalia Taha
Poets:
Dalia Taha (PSE)
English

Dag: Saturday Type: Program
Band: RABASA

Come dance to the Cape Verdean beats!
Poets:
Rabasa (NLD+CPV)
Dutch

Dag: Saturday Type: Music
The Poetry Barber

Come listen in while spoken word artist Benzokarim gets a fresh look from a Rotterdam barber
Poets:
Benzokarim (NLD)
Dutch

Dag: Sunday Type: 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: Sunday Type: Workshop

Interpreter NGT/Transcription Interpreter
This event features a sign language interpreter
in m’n buurt

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

Dag: Sunday Type: Collaboration
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: Sunday Type: Reading