Meet the talented emerging writers on our 2026 New Writers Awards! Find out who they are and read samples of their work. www.scottishbooktrust.com/writing-and-... Our thanks to @creativescots.bsky.social and University of Glasgow Creative Writing Programme (The Kavya Prize) for their support.

⏰Get on Board! Rock the Boat returns to the Wee Red Bar on Thursday 19 February, 7–9pm. Join us for a joyful evening of open mic poetry hosted by Catherine Wilson Garry and Julia Sorensen, with feature poet Marianne MacRae . Sign up to perform or just pop along pushtheboatout.org/rock-the-boat/

Sign ups for the Aberdeen Slam Heat are open! Add your name to the mix for a chance to compete for the £200 prize, entry into our 2026 Loud Poets Grand Slam Final, and the title of Loud Poets Aberdeen Champion. Sign ups close on Friday, March 13, head to iamloud.co/slam for more information

It's our birthday month! We're ready to celebrate turning 12 with the return of our showcases. Join us in Edinburgh at the Scottish Storytelling Centre on Thursday, February 26, for an evening with Pepita, Gilad Zinman, Caitlin O'Ryan, and Griot Gabriel. Get tickets at iamloud.co/live

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/rV4OFS2v5FE On January 9, 2026, at our Glasgow Slam Heat, TJ shared this piece about growing up in dark uncertainty and lighting the path to your true self. Learn more about TJ's work: www.instagram.com/teajaypoetry

My next event will be an online workshop at StAnza Poetry festival - 'In the company of Poetry', Saturday 14th March, 2.30-4pm. Ticket prices start at £5. There are also still a few FREE places available for people for whom the cost would be prohibitive. Sign up here to secure a place -

Our next February Open Mic Feature is Loud Poets resident musician, Jack Hinks! Jack Hinks is an internationally-published poet, musician and photographer. Known for his introspective style, and award-winning collaborative work with hundreds of poets in the UK spoken word scene.

Thank you, Glasgow! Back in January, we held our latest Slam Heat over on the West Coast and these poets showcased the best of Spoken Word in Scotland. Congratulations to our new Glasgow Slam Champion Fiona Jane! Watch the Glasgow Slam on YouTube: www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/gOD65yVadOM On January 9, 2026, at our Glasgow Slam Heat Kirsty, Crawford shared this powerful poem about motherhood, memory, and post-natal depression. Learn more about Kirsty Crawford's work via www.instagram.com/kcrawfordcre...

Our first February Open Mic is TONIGHT! Featuring the current Drafted! Slam Winner Emily Grace Briggs! Here's a few photos from our January Open Mic, where we featured current Grand Slam Champion Aditya Narayan. The event is FREE, with doors at 6.30 pm at the Scottish Storytelling Centre.

Venue update! Our Loud Poets Glasgow Showcase and Masterclass with Griot Gabriel will now be taking place at Drygate. Both events are on Saturday, 28th Feb. Info & tickets: www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/12828900054 #poetry #Glasgow

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/uPHu8EKkHBw On January 9, 2026, we held our Glasgow Heat at the Centre for Contemporary Art! Finalist, Sarah Grant, shared this powerful poem in response to the bureaucracy around legally changing her wife's name.

Bute, you beauty! We had a fantastic time last weekend leading spoken word workshops in Rothesay with young people and adults, and performing our new touring show. It may have been our first time in Bute, but we're sure it won't be our last...

🚨🚨Happening tonight🚨🚨: Hybrid Writing online craft session with Andrés N. Ordorica about writing between genres. Grab your spot now: scottishbpocwritersnetwork.org/developing-y...

"New Full Slam! Watch here: youtu.be/tDJUtt08RLc On 9th January 2026, we held our Glasgow Heat at the CCA in Glasgow! We welcomed previous Glasgow Champion Arlo Bayne as our Sacrificial Poet. Thank you to Creative Scotland for supporting our work in the Scottish spoken word scene."

Our Celestial Celebration of Burns event last month was out of this world! Getting to perform spoken word poetry and music in the incredible setting of the Dynamic Earth Planetarium was such a thrill. Huge thanks to Dynamic Earth for approaching us for this exciting collaboration!

Applications are open for Creative Scotland's Four Nations International Fund which supports individuals and organisations in developing international partnerships and co-creation projects buff.ly/vj3JobP (deadline - 25 Feb 2026)

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/Yib40WkvZ6M Dev McMath delivers a histerical piece describing some the dangers of dating apps. Performed at our 2026 Glasgow Slam. Learn more about Dev McMath's work via www.instagram.com/devmcmath

Our Open Mic Feature for NEXT WEEK is the brilliant, Emily Briggs! Emily Briggs is a multidisciplinary performer who splits her time between spoken word, physical theatre and a touch of comedy. Photo Credit: Makis Moulos @makismoulos

and speaking of doing poetic things onstage, I will be taking part in the #CandlelightPoetrySlam on Monday (2/2/26) at 7.30pm, @ The Old Toll Bar in #Glasgow allevents.in/glasgow/2000... I'd love to see your beautiful faces there 😊💖 ♿ access note: the venue is unfortunately down a set of stairs

We're so excited for the first Fife Queer Zine Fest! Our wonderful Community Engagement and Development Officer is running a drop-in creative session, where you can decorate a concrete planter and reflect on queer community and connection, come say hi! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Support us by booking in for a WORKSHOP! Our February workshops just went live here: typewronger.com/product-cate... - Riso Zine Making Workshops (£45) Badge Making / Monotyping (£20) and the Risograph Day Course is back for those of you feeling flush (£110). Go check them out!

The Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations’ @scvo.scot HR for Creatives programme offers free HR support and development to arts, screen and creative industries employers for 12 months buff.ly/yKrKAsR (deadline - 16 Feb 2026)

We are aware of the immediate closure and liquidation of CCA Glasgow, where we had just announced our new season of Glasgow showcases and masterclasses. We are working to make plans so that these events can still go ahead and will provide further information as soon as we can. (1/2)

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/dc-caorizHs Christie Gourlay dares to dream of a world where we celebrate the average, middling and competent over the mindblowing and exceptional, with hilarious results. Performed at our 2026 Glasgow Heat at the CCA Glasgow!

Bute, see you this weekend! Join us in Rothesay on Saturday for spoken word poetry workshops for adults and young people, then an open mic and our new Loud Poets show in the evening. Details: www.facebook.com/events/87045...

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/EDrIZMlI-0w From Fiona Jane, a deeply sensual and loving piece about the experience of having a different first language to a partner. Performed at our 2026 Glasgow Heat at the CCA Glasgow! Learn more about Fiona Jane's work via www.instagram.com/Weepeachpoetry

Our Writers of Colour workshops are back! Join us and former Edinburgh Makar @hannahlavery.bsky.social for another round of poetry writing, sharing, and learning together: scottishbpocwritersnetwork.org/writers-of-c...

A statement from IAL's Directors. Full text in ALT Text.

NEW VIDEO! Watch here: youtu.be/CsbNpBq2BNE From our 2026 Glasgow Heat at the CCA in Glasgow! It was here that Arlo Bayne performed this histerical and towering ode to the more vertically challenged men out there. Learn more about Arlo Bayne's work via www.instagram.com/baynes_makery/

On Saturday the 21st of February the shop will be open all the way through the night as we're fundraising to pay our bills! We'll be switching over to a purple ink stamp for the night shift featuring a time stamp so you can prove you were chilling in a bookshop at 3am. Stay tuned for more details...

Applications are open for Creative Scotland's Four Nations International Fund which supports individuals and organisations in developing international partnerships and co-creation projects buff.ly/vj3JobP (deadline - 25 Feb 2026)

Our first Open Mic of 2026 is TONIGHT! Featuring the REIGNING GRAND SLAM CHAMPION! Aditya Narayan! Here's a few photos from our last Open Mic in 2025. The event is FREE, with doors at 6.30 for a 7pm start at the Scottish Storytelling Centre See you tonight!

New Loudcast Episode! Watch here: youtu.be/LK5KEW8YoWc In this episode of The LoudCast, RJ Hunter chats with multidisciplinary artist, Kate Ireland! Kate Ireland discusses her approach to making music, formatting her work for social media, her work within different communities, her upcoming...

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/-50L52yMJHQ At our December 2025 open mic, Emma Atkin gave us a hilarious and terrifying glipse of their average day working in retail. Learn more about Emma Atkin's work via www.instagram.com/atkine96/

What a night at the Diggers! Thanks to everyone who packed out the room 🎤 Great open mic-ers, two top sets from Jack Hinks - and I got to share a set of new material with a room of extremely lovely people 🙏🎸 📌 Next GYS open mic: Mon 23 March. Features TBC 🍺

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/OXyPpX7IkeQ From Sol Vardi, a poem about dating culture and questionable choices, performed live at our December 2025 open mic. Learn more about Sol Vardi's work via www.instagram.com/solfoodpoetry/

My first night co-hosting the Graveyard Shift at Diggers! Expecting a good turnout so get down early if you're coming along 👇🍺

Poets, submissions are open now for the 2026 @forwardprizes.bsky.social! The Jerwood Prize for Best Single Poem - Performed category is accepting video submissions until 15 March. This is such an important prize, and we encourage all poets with a performance practice to consider submitting. (...)

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/s0vseUwZsTI At our December 2025 open mic, Kara shared this showstopping piece written for a vigil for Trans Day of Remembrance. This is an abridged version of that poem. Learn more about Kara Deceased's work via www.instagram.com/kara.deceased/

We're hiring! We're looking for a relief bookseller to join us for a minimum of 3 hours per week, fixed term Feb-Jul 2026. For more information on the role and on how to apply, visit this blog post here! Closing at 10am Monday 26th January lighthousebookshop.com/posts/were-h...

Poetry! Politics! Fiction! We've got a delicious new year offering. A few of our early 2026 events have sold out, from Postcards for Palestine to our writing workshop with the brilliant Candice Chung, so wee reminder that if you're keen to join us, it's worth trying to book in early!

Last Call for Board Member Applications! ⏱️ Looking to make a difference? Join our board to support us in our work, using theatre as a tool to tackle gender justice. 🎭 You have until this Thursday at 12pm (noon) to apply! Head to buff.ly/G0U8Bcp to find out more 💜

This could be you, reading at our festival on 2026 because you entered VERVE Poem of the Festival and won, or got shortlisted …. You’ve got till tomorrow at midnight to send your poems. www.vervepoetryfestival.com/competition-open

Our first Open Mic of 2026 is NEXT WEEK! Our first feature poet is our Grand Slam Champion, Aditya Narayan! Aditya is a spoken word poet born in India and performing in the UK for over a year. He is the current Roundhouse Slam Champion and the reigning Loud Poets Grand Slam Champion.

New Video! Watch here: youtu.be/phNm_zS4Ulg At our December 2025 open mic, Naomi Head shared this fierce and biting "Golden Shovel" using "What I Would Tell Eve" by Maegen McAuliffe O'Leary Learn more about Naomi's work: linktr.ee/naomieah_

StAnza has just launched their 2026 programme, and it's a corker! We're delighted to once again be partnering with them for the St. Andrews Heat of our Loud Poets Slam Series, plus a performance poetry workshop. Check out the programme: stanzapoetry.org/festival/sta...

Edinburgh's Capital Theatres' Theatre Insights Taster Days are made for young creatives aged 12-15 and are packed with fun activities from backstage tours to hands-on workshops with inspiring artists. Booking is open for the next one on Sat 17 Jan 2026

Is writing part of your 2026 plans? Join our friendly online workshops led by inspiring international poets. On 11 Feb award-winning Palestinian-American poet Naomi Shihab Nye explores how to transform mundane moments into powerful poetry: www.citizenticket.com/events/push-...