Running from 17–26 April, this year’s festival explored the theme Wonder & Wanderers, bringing together local, national and international writers to reflect on migration, movement, mythology and belonging through poetry and spoken word.
Across 35 events, audiences took part in readings, performances, workshops, poetry slams, walking tours, family activities, open mic sessions and panel discussions held throughout the city.
Events took place at some of Bristol’s best-known arts venues, including St George’s Bristol, Arnolfini, Watershed, Bristol Old Vic and Loco Klub.
Among the headline performers were former Children’s Poet Laureate Michael Rosen, TS Eliot Prize winner Joelle Taylor, Jamaican-born American poet Shara McCallum and Bristol-born writer and performer Travis Alabanza.
The festival opened with The Power of Poetry, a discussion exploring the role of spoken word and live poetry in responding to world events and empowering communities. Joelle Taylor joined touring UK poet and internet sensation Georgie Jones, former Bristol City Poet Vanessa Kisuule and celebrated Bristol poet Bertel Martin, founder of Bristol Black Writers.
One of the festival’s biggest highlights was the Grand Final of the Lyra Poetry Slam 2026, which drew a sell-out crowd as 10 of Bristol’s leading spoken word artists competed for the championship title.
Bristol-born Chloe Tenesha was crowned the 2026 slam champion, while Enzie received the inaugural Glenn Carmichael Award for the highest audience-scored performance.
The award honours Glenn Carmichael, who introduced poetry slam to Bristol in the 1990s and helped shape the city’s spoken word scene. The slam final also featured performances from acclaimed poets Musa Okwonga and Caitlin O’Ryan, who formed part of the judging panel.
Elsewhere in the programme, Shara McCallum headlined the Caribbean Poetry Liming at Bristol Old Vic alongside Anthony Joseph, Malika Booker and Bristol-based poets.
Michael Rosen presented a family performance of poetry and stories for children aged six and over, while Travis Alabanza led the Queer Poetry Cabaret at Arnolfini, bringing together local and national performers for an evening of poetry, spoken word and live performance.
The festival also featured theatre performances by Joelle Taylor and Inua Ellams, a celebration of young Palestinian voices, a special event aboard the SS Great Britain, and a showcase of Nigerian-British poetry led by award-winning writers Theresa Lola and Joladé Olusanya.
Readings from recently published collections by Nikita Gill, Rishi Dastidar, Karen McCarthy-Woolf, Wayne Holloway-Smith, Matthew Rice and Clare Pollard also formed part of the programme.
Alongside headline performances, Lyra 2026 delivered more than 20 participatory events, including creative writing workshops, open mic nights and discussion panels exploring themes such as poetry, artificial intelligence, ethics and inclusion.
Festival organisers said the programme reflected Lyra’s continuing commitment to widening access to poetry and supporting both emerging and established writers across Bristol and beyond.
More information about the festival and ways to support Lyra’s future work can be found at lyrafest.com/support-us.