Hullabaloo is BC’s Youth Spoken Word Festival featuring workshops, showcase performances and some of BC’s finest high school-aged poets all sharing work for peers and audiences alike. The festival is a forum where youth tell their stories, explore the issues that matter to them, and connect with poets from across British Columbia to form a community of writers.
School teams come together to compete in slams, learn from workshops, and witness great feature poets. Events at the festival include a two-day poetry slam tournament, mini master classes with professional poets, the ever-popular All Star Slam showcase, and the Hullabaloo Finals with an incredible headlining artist. Schools from around the province are invited to attend.
Registration for new teams begins on November 3rd, 2025. Registration is $300 and is non-refundable. Registration includes:
- Participation in a minimum of two, 4-round poetry slam events
- A 2-hour pre-festival workshop with a member of WordPlay Poets
- Tickets for the All Star Slam (plus discounted tickets for other poetry club members)
- Early registration for Adventures in Poetryland workshops, and
- Festival passes for the entire Verses Festival of Words
For Hullabaloo information and requests please contact the Youth Coordinator at wordplay@vancouverpoetryhouse.com.
Hullabaloo 2026
April 23rd to 25th, 2026
(Event location TBD. Schedule subject to change.)
THURS, APR 23 @ TBC
SPOKEN WORD JAMBOREE – 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Gathered Hullabaloo teams introduce themselves with zany, hilarious and/or awkward 1-minute poems, then enjoy a showcase from festival alumni!
FRI, APR 24 @ TBC
ALL STAR SLAM – Doors: 12:00 PM | Show: 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
FRI, APR 24 @ TBC
SLAM ROUND 1 – 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
All Hullabaloo teams in Hullabaloo perform a mix of individual and group performances in poetry slam competitions! Poetry presented with gusto and the enthusiastic support of all attending teams!
SAT, APR 25 @ TBC
ADVENTURES IN POETRYLAND – 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Participating youth can sign up for two out of four mini master classes (50-minute workshops) offered by festival artists!
SLAM ROUND 2 – 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM
All Hullabaloo teams in Hullabaloo perform a mix of individual and group performances in poetry slam competitions! Poetry presented with gusto and the enthusiastic support of all attending teams!
HULLABALOO FINALS – 7:30 PM to 10:00 PM
We begin with the presentation of the Zaccheus Jackson Spirit of the Slam Award and a performance from an incredible headlining artist!
Then the top four teams compete in one last slam to determine the Hullabaloo champion and recipient of the Poe A. Tree Trophy!
Or mannequin… the trophy is definitely a mannequin… IT’S HULLABALOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!