Chemnitz in poetry fever: The mastery of the word acrobats!

Chemnitz in poetry fever: The mastery of the word acrobats!

A look at the exciting world of poetry slams: This year's German-language poetry slam championship will take place in Chemnitz on November 1, 2025. From 8:00 p.m., the best talented word acrobats from Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg and Italy will present their self-written texts and fight for the title. A total of 80 starters compete, 9 of whom make it to the individual final. This championship is the 29th of its kind and promises to be a spectacular event that will captivate spectators.

So what exactly is going on here? Poetry slams are more than just simple poetry competitions; they are lively events at which authors present their works with passion and performance. The audience has the say when it comes to who delivers the best writing and who ultimately emerges victorious - a concept that is deeply rooted in the history of this competition.

A look back

The origins of the poetry slam movement date back to 1986, when the first competition was held at The Green Mill in Chicago. The term “poetry slam” can be loosely translated as “poet battle” or “poet competition,” and the first German-language poetry slam championship was launched in 1997. Today the German-speaking scene is considered one of the largest in the world and is becoming increasingly popular.

The texts presented at such events are usually written specifically for the stage and do not require any props or musical instruments. Instead, voice, gestures and facial expressions are used to captivate the audience. This encourages interaction between poets and audience members, making the experience even more unique. Judging is often done by applause or ballots, and various systems are used to achieve fair results.

A pleasure for everyone

Frankly speaking, entry to such events is exciting for young and old. After all, previous finalists like Hazel Brugger and Marc-Uwe Kling are an integral part of the community. Both the dedicated fan base and the artists have made great progress in recent years, and there are now more than 300 regular poetry slams in Germany alone. What is particularly noteworthy is that the German-language poetry slams were included in UNESCO's nationwide list of intangible cultural heritage in 2016, which represents an enormous benefit for culture.

On Saturday evening in Chemnitz, spectators can expect an explosive mix of words, emotions and creativity. And even if there is a prestigious title to be won, the main focus is on fun and exchange. As soon as the first rhymes sound across the stage, it quickly becomes clear: the poets all have a good knack for the art of language. We can be very excited to see who wins the poetry slam championship.

For more information about poetry slams and the event in Chemnitz, please visit Poetry.com or find out more about the history and development of this art form Wikipedia.