Headliners
Sonia Sanchez, Kaveh Akbar, Duy Doan, Jeffrey Harrison, Dorianne Laux, Erika Meitner, Carl Phillips, Nicole Sealey, Sean Thomas Dougherty, Rhina P. Espaillat
Additional Info
Online button sales have closed. Purchase or pick up your button at the festival, starting May 4 at our headquarters Old Town Hall (32 Derby Square), at either of our outdoor info booths (one near Old Town Hall and one near the PEM), or in the lobby of our bigger venues, like the PEM or Hawthorne Hotel.
10 Years!
The 10th Massachusetts Poetry Festival celebrates the state’s lively contemporary poetry scene from Friday, May 4 to Sunday, May 6, in downtown Salem, MA.
The Mass Poetry Festival offers nearly 100 poetry readings and workshops, a small press and literary fair, panels, poetry slams, and open-air readings. More than 150 poets will engage with thousands of New Englanders.
Read at the Festival!
The Massachusetts Poetry Festival is holding a contest for a poet to open one of our headline readings. Poets must have strong Massachusetts ties and be available both weekend days of the festival (May 5-6).
Submissions are closed. Winners will be announced in mid-April.
Advertise in Our Program Book
Support the Massachusetts Poetry Festival by purchasing an ad in our 2018 Poetry Festival Program Book. We welcome queries from publishers, writing programs, organizations, and individuals. Send an email to [email protected] for more information. Ad deadline is March 30.
Small Press and Literary Fair
Our Small Press and Literary Fair will take place on Saturday, May 5 from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., located along the Pedestrian Mall between Peabody Essex Museum and Museum Place Mall.
Want to book a table at the Small Press Fair? Presses, writing programs, and individual poets—contact us for more info. Send your queries to [email protected].
Early bird rate (March 14-March 21): $50
Regular rate (starting March 22): $75
Book Fair ad rates: Small Press Table and Quarter Page Ad Special: $150 (Typically $175. No further discounts offered.)
Volunteer
Volunteers will receive free entry to all three days of the festival as a thank you for your work. We have a few volunteer positions still open. If you are interested, please email [email protected].
Please note: The scheduling site allows you to create your own personal schedule for your reference. The attendee list is used only for workshops and headliners. All other sessions are first come first served.
Contest
The Massachusetts Poetry Festival is holding a contest for a poet to open one of our headline readings. Poet must have strong Massachusetts ties and be available both weekend days of the festival (May 5-6). Please submit 5-10 poems with a $10 submission fee by April 1. Form.