National Poetry Slam

• What is the National Poetry Slam?
• When did the NPS begin?
• Where has NPS been held? Where will it be held in the future?
• Can individuals compete at NPS?
• How many teams compete at NPS?
• How do I get my team to compete at NPS?
• When does registration begin?
• How much does it cost?

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What is the National Poetry Slam?

NPS is the largest team performance poetry event in the world. Teams from all over North America, and a few from other places converge in a different city every summer for five days of poetry, revelry and competition.

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When did the NPS begin?

The first National Poetry Slam took place in San Francisco in 1990 and was hosted by Gary Mex Glazner. It involved one San Francisco team competing against one Chicago team and one individual from New York. Chicago won that first NPS.

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Where is NPS held?

The general answer is that NPS happens in a different city every summer.

• 1990 San Francisco, CA
• 1991 Chicago, IL
• 1992 Boston, MA
• 1993 San Francisco, CA
• 1994 Asheville, NC
• 1995 Ann Arbor, MI
• 1996 Portland, OR
• 1997 Middletown, CT
• 1998 Austin, TX
• 1999 Chicago, IL
• 2000 Providence, RI
• 2001 Seattle, WA
• 2002 Minneapolis, MN
• 2003 Chicago, IL
• 2004 St. Louis, MO
• 2005 Albuquerque, NM
• 2006 Austin, TX
• 2007 Austin, TX
• 2008 Madison, WI
• 2009 West Palm Beach, FL