English 
Southern Fried Poetry Slam 2026: Largest Spoken Word Event Hits Orlando
Photo credit: Christopher Diaz
More than 200 poets are gathering in Orlando to compete in the 34th annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam, a performing arts tournament celebrating the spoken word and community.
On top of the competition, Southern Fried hosts workshops and a variety of open mics, including those themed Hip-Hop, Erotic, and LGBTQIA. Other competitive events include Slammasters vs. Rookies Slam, Nerd Slam, and Monologue Slam, along with a Haiku Death Match.
Significance of Bringing the Poetry Slam to Central Florida
This year marks the first time the festival is hosted in Orlando. The opening event, “Revive Zora,” will be in the historic town of Eatonville, home to Zora Neale Hurston, a preeminent author of twentieth-century African-American literature. “Opening the festival there is an intentional act honoring her legacy, centering black storytelling, rooting this week-long celebration in the very soil it grew from,” said Sean Welcome, co-founder of the Literary Arts Council of Central Florida, which was instrumental in bringing Southern Fried to Orlando.
The festival began in 1993 in Asheville, North Carolina, and was named after the legacy of Southern food and hospitality. Its mission is to showcase “the best of the Southern American spoken word/poetry community while fostering a safe and inclusive community for all,” according to its website.
How the Poetry Slam Competition Works
The regional slam is divided into three preliminary rounds. From there, the top four teams and top four individual poets progress to the finals. Poets have three minutes to perform an original piece. A panel of five judges, randomly selected from the audience, scores the performance. Each poet’s points count toward the team they are a part of, and the winners receive cash prizes and bragging rights. This year, 32 teams and 32 individual poets are competing, bringing the total participant count to more than 200.
Hospitality is a Southern Fried Slam Hallmark
According to its site, Southern Fried is reputed to be the most welcoming slam experience for newcomers, making it stand out from other poetry slams. Blu Bailey, poet and festival director, said this festival is all about community. “I believe in the family, community, and connection of all those things. That is what I allow to guide my journey through poetry,” she said.
Bailey has been writing poems since she was a young child, but she became immersed in the spoken word scene in 2006. She said the community provided support when she needed it most and that she feels most inspired when she is around creative writers. Bailey said their energy and the topics they speak about move her emotionally, reminding her of the power of poetry.
Society and poetry have changed simultaneously, Bailey said. The rise of technology has ushered in many different types of poets, she said, but artists still create space for topics to be discussed, which can influence people’s way of thinking. “If it’s creating the conversations, then that’s good art.”
The 34th annual Southern Fried Poetry Slam runs from June 9 to 15. The Literary Arts Council of Central Florida has helped secure several venues for the spoken-word performances and community, including public libraries and community centers, City Arts, Embassy Suites (downtown Orlando), and others. For a simple schedule and tickets, visit givebutter.com/southernfriedpoetry.
Mike Synan
News | Sports | Politics
- After two decades in news and politics, Mike Synan is returning to his roots to write Sports as “The Sportsaholic”. Mike hosted a talk show for 6 years on WDBO after Magic home games called “Magic Til Midnight”, and spent years working as an in-game correspondent for both ESPN and Fox Sports Radio. His column “Synan Says” has appeared on both www.wdbo.com and www.floridadaily.com. He has a BS in Political Science from Clemson University. You can reach him at msynan@sportsmail.com
