The Massachusetts Poetry Festival will be back in Salem, MA on May 31st and June 1st, 2025! The Festival features over 100 poets and performers from across Massachusetts and beyond. There are headline readings, workshops, panels, a small press fair, multimedia events, open mics, and more.

There are many ways to get involved for 2025. Below you can find more details about proposing a Festival event, serving on our programming committee, partnering with us as a business or organization, and supporting the Festival financially. In the coming months we’ll share sponsorship, vendor, and volunteer opportunities. Sign up for our newsletter at masspoetry.org to hear the latest Festival updates.

Call for Proposals:

We are currently inviting individuals and groups to submit proposals for participation in the Festival. We are committed to showcasing creative, innovative, and diverse events, including panel discussions, poetry readings, poetry slams, poetry with music, art and dance, workshops, and other events that defy categorization. The majority of Festival events are not organized by Mass Poetry but come from community members and organizations like you! Submit this form to propose an event to take place in person in Salem May 31 or June 1.

You can also submit this form to propose a virtual event for our Bridging the Gap series. Bridging the Gap events are some of our most popular Festival events! They are hosted online in the weeks leading up to the in-person Festival. Submit this form to propose a virtual event.

Deadline: October 31st

Questions? Email: [email protected]

Call for Programming Committee Members:

The Programming Committee is a volunteer group composed of 8-10 distinguished volunteer poets from around Massachusetts who meet virtually to discuss Festival event proposals. All poets, curators of poetry events and lovers of poetry are welcome to submit this form to be considered for the Committee.  If you are selected to be part of the committee you will hear from us in November.

Deadline: October 31st

Questions? Email: [email protected]

Want To Read at a Mass Poetry Event at the Festival?

Do you want to propose yourself as a Festival reader? Are you an agent representing a poet? Anyone is welcome to fill out this form and let us know more about you! Please note that relatively few poets are invited directly by Mass Poetry. The majority of our Festival programming is community proposed events chosen by our programming committee, so if you want to increase your chances of being involved, consider making a proposal via this form. 

Want To Get Involved as a Business or Local Org?

Are you a business or organization interested in getting involved with or hosting Festival programming? Please fill out this form.

Questions? Email: [email protected]

Financial Support

Thanks as always to our many partners and sponsors, including the Peabody Essex Museum, the City of Salem, Salem State University, the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and more. Are you interested in supporting the Festival, or do you know about grant and funding opportunities Mass Poetry should have on its radar? Please email: [email protected].

Want to make a donation to support Mass Poetry and the Festival? You can do so here.