Something for everyone over a packed weekend of poetry and music.

The Tasmanian Poetry Festival 2023 celebrates all things poetry with guests and performers from across Tasmania and Australia.
From Friday, 6 October to Sunday, 8 October, the festival takes over the Earl Arts Centre and the Launceston Library.

Representing a wide range of poetic styles, including specialists in the written word and prize-winning performance, our poets include interstate performers Tug Dumbly, David Hallett, Myron Lysenko, Rebecca Rushbrook, Brendan Ryan and Kimberly K. Williams, and Tasmanians Pamela Leach and Tim Thorne prize winner Esther Ottaway, with UK-born and internationally recognised Helga Jermy from Ulverstone.

A special treat will be Sunday's performance by the highly regarded Ross Donlon with international jazz guitarist Steve Brien and the iconic Launceston Poetry Cup on Saturday night.

For more details visit the Tasmanian Poetry Festival facebook page

Tasmanian Poetry Festival Pass

Enjoy the real festival experience with our new FESTIVAL PASS. Passholders will save up to 20% on the total ticket cost and have the opportunity to meet and greet our guest poets at the Festival Launch.

The FESTIVAL PASS covers entry to

• Exclusive Festival Launch Party (Friday Evening)
• Friday Night Feature
• Saturday Sessions
• The Launceston Poetry Cup (Saturday Evening)
• Sunday Sessions

Note: Masterclass Workshops are not included in the Festival Pass.

Friday Night Feature

from 7:15 pm

The festival kicks off with three entertaining and powerful guest performers: Rebecca Rushbrook, Myron Lysenko, and Tug Dumbly. Hosted by MC Thomas Bailey. Friday Night Feature is a refulgent evening of not-to-be-missed entertainment in words.

Run time 135 mins.

Saturday Sessions

9:00 am | Open Mic
Registrations open from 8:40 am

10:00 am | 'Deceptions'
A staged reading of Stella Kent's play about Tasmanian poet Gwen Harwood, directed by Peter Hammond.

11:30 am | Guest Poets
Featuring Rebecca Rushbrook, Helga Jermy, Brendan Ryan

12:30 pm | Lunch
A light lunch will be served

1:15 pm | Book Launch (Under the same moon: Fourth Haiku Anthology)
Join us for the launch of this new work with Myron Lysenko (contributing poet) and Lyn Reeves (editor).

1:40 pm | Andrew Hardy Award
This award for young Tasmanian poets remembers Andrew Hardy, who died in 1997, at the age of 22.

2:30 pm | Book Launch (Ways to say Goodbye)
by Anne Kellas & Jane Wiliams

3:00 pm | Guest Poets
David Hallett, Esther Ottaway, Kimberly K Williams

Launceston Poetry Cup (Saturday Evening)

From 6:30 pm

The highlight of the weekend is the iconic Launceston Poetry Cup. Open to all, our poets have just one minute to impress the audience with a piece of original work.

Sunday Sessions

Jazz and Poetry

10:00 am | Ross Donlon and Steve Brian
Jazz backed poetry

10:40 am | Guest Poets
Brendan Ryan, Pamela Leach, David Hallet

12:00 pm | Lunch
A light lunch will served

1:00 pm | Guest Poets
Rebecca Rushbrook, Helga Jermy, Kimberly K. Williams, Esther Ottaway

from 3:30 pm | Farewell

Access Seating:
Please contact the Box Office by email or call 6331 0052 to discuss seating options. Information on venue and performance accessibility is available here.