According to the Bocas Lit Fest team, National Poetry Slam Finals will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2026, with a special performance by Trinidadian soca singer and songwriter Jahmike “Christo” Bonas. Doors open at 6:00pm, and showtime is at 6:30pm, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (on Frederick Street, Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago). The National Poetry Slam celebrates its 14th year in 2026 as the leading stage for Spoken Word in the largest cash reward for Spoken Word artists in the English-speaking Caribbean. Read more about the participants below and at BLF Poetry Slam.
As the championship intensifies, audiences are invited to witness the passion, power, and poetry of the finalists, who will face off against the defending champion in the National Poetry Slam 2026 Grand Slam.
Taking the stage in the Grand Slam will be Renaldo Briggs, Colleen Cleghorn, Alicia Psyche Haynes, Rickibah Isaac, Johchele Johnson, Shimiah Lewis, Derron Sandy, Alexandra Stewart, and Seth Sylvester, who will challenge the 2025 defending champion, Shaquille Warren. The standby poets are Ronaldo Mohammed and Geron Ruiz.
From a DM to a Carnival anthem; and now, the Grand Slam stage:
This year’s guest performer, Christo, gave us one of the Carnival season’s biggest hits with “Doux Doux Darlin,” a track that’s been moving crowds across T&T and beyond. And now…he’s bringing that same energy live.
Tickets: $250 General $350 VIP, available at: Island E Tickets, at Xtra Foods (Arima, Aranguez, Endeavour & Grand Bazaar), Synchronergy, Boba & Brew (St. Augustine & Marabella) and NAPA Box Office.
NPS Hotline: +1 (868) 753-4616
For more information and to purchase, see https://www.bocaslitfest.com/poetry-slam/ and https://islandetickets.com/event/NPS2026GRANDSLAM
Also see https://socarecords.com/charts/christos-doux-doux-darlin-breaks-way/
According to the Bocas Lit Fest team, National Poetry Slam Finals will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2026, with a special performance by Trinidadian soca singer and songwriter Jahmike “Christo” Bonas. Doors open at 6:00pm, and showtime is at 6:30pm, at the National Academy for the Performing Arts (on Frederick Street, Port of Spain,
