Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival Returns With Three Days of Power, Performance, and Community

Pompano Beach is gearing up for a weekend where every word carries weight and every voice finds its place. The Eighth Annual Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival returns December 11–13, 2025, bringing a rush of creativity, cultural pride, and artistic brilliance to the city’s cultural venues.

What started as a local love letter to spoken word has grown into a national gathering of writers, teachers, performers, and cultural torchbearers. Supported by Pompano Beach Arts and the Broward County Cultural Division, Exit 36 continues its mission to nurture new talent while honoring the pioneers who shaped South Florida’s literary community.

This year’s festival offers workshops, artist talks, community dialogues, and stage moments that remind audiences why poetry still matters — because it tells the truth, restores the spirit, and connects us beyond the page.

Final Stage: Where Poets Leave It All on the Mic

The festival’s finale — December 13 from 8–10 p.m. at the Pompano Beach Cultural Center — is where the stakes rise and the Top 10 poets step into the light. Hosted by Made-Son, the final stage blends competition with celebration, backed by food trucks, music, a full bar, and a community that shows up for its artists.

Special performances by Eccentrich and Jonkel bring added electricity to the night. Both artists, known for their raw storytelling and emotional delivery, help set a tone that is equal parts soulful and explosive.

Expect a packed room, expect standing ovations, expect the kind of lines that make you pause and breathe a little deeper.

A Festival Rooted in Community and Creation

What makes Exit 36 unique isn’t just the artistry — it’s the community built around it. Over three days, writers from across the country sit in workshops together, talk craft, sharpen their stories, and build collaborations that stretch far beyond festival walls.

Exit 36 remains committed to accessibility and education, offering sessions that welcome beginners, seasoned performers, and anyone curious about the power of the spoken word. The festival has become one of South Florida’s most anticipated cultural gatherings because it celebrates both the art and the people who create it.

A Cultural Legacy That Keeps Growing

Exit 36 stands as one of Pompano Beach’s signature celebrations of expression, literacy, and community engagement. It is a reminder that art thrives here — in our classrooms, our cultural centers, our neighborhoods, and in the many voices who dare to share their story.

This year’s festival promises more than just competition; it promises connection, renewal, and a stage where every poet is seen.

Tickets and event details are available through Pompano Beach Arts.