2026 State of the Word

This regional poetry showcase has become a springboard for young leaders who wish to speak through silence, share thoughts with their community, or champion a new vision for themselves and the world. You will never encounter energy like the spirit of the performers and audience of the State of the Word.

A panel of judges will also select the 2027 Nashville Youth Poet Laureate, a program which aims to celebrate youth across Nashville at the intersection of artistic excellence and civic engagement.

Performers emerge from Southern Word’s programs sponsored by the Metro Arts: Nashville Office of Arts + Culture, Tennessee Arts Commission, Metro Nashville Public Schools, Memorial Foundation, Nashville Public Library, Nashville Public Library Foundation, Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, Dan and Margaret Maddox Fund, and the Metro Human Relations Commission.

State of the Word is being held at Vanderbilt University’s Sarratt Cinema in the Sarratt Student Center (2301 Vanderbilt Pl, Nashville, TN 37240) on December 5 at 7:00pm.

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