Triangle Poetry Festival celebrates the artists, the heart-leading advocates, and the movers in the margins. The challenges we face as a community are great. Greater still is our hope, our creativity, and our resilient love for one another. 

What are you moving towards? Don’t just answer with words. Bring your soul into motion at the Triangle’s new two-day experience of poetry from acclaimed poets and arts experiences with local community heart leaders.

A weekend to move and connect

On March 20 and 21, 2026, Boxyard RTP and Third Angle Poets host an exciting, engaging and immersive poetry experience that has something for everyone, no matter your age or artistic background.* 

Space is limited. Get tickets now. (See cancellation and refund policy, below)

Friday, March 20

• 5:30 - 7:00 PM | LOJO: Open Mic poetry with neighborhood musicians (more info)
• 7:00 - 9:00 PM | Poets Meet & Greet Social: Poets and poetry lovers meet in-person, quench thirst for connection (more info)

Saturday, March 21

Morning

• 10:00 - 11:30 AM | Advance Your Craft: 8 poets get expert revisions on poems for publication or performance (more info)

• 1:00 - 2:00 PM | Tea Ceremony with Angelica Whitehorne & NC Botanical Garden: Poets read works of martyred voices over tea and scatter wildflower word-seeds in their honor. (more info)
• 2:30 - 3:00 PM | Line Break: Read your favorite lines (originals or covers) as The Raleigh Rockers put your poetry in motion through dance. (more info)
• 3:00 - 4:00 PM | A Youth Poetry Jam: A poetry open mic jam celebrating the voices of tomorrow from across the Triangle. (learn more)
• 4:00 - 5:00 PM | Writing Workshop with Paradiso Poetry: Explore unexpected ways to use your senses to write poetry (more info)

• 5:00 - 6:15 PM | Eden Unheard: Featured poets read unheard poems that honor, relieve and celebrate. (learn more)
• 6:30 - 7:00 PM | 99 Poets Read Together (separate signup link will be emailed with ticket confirmation): 99 poets walk through the parking lot and read together all at once in a real-life social media grid formation. (more info)

*Check the details for each activity (TBD) as some handle heavy subjects, and discretion may be advised for young children. This program especially welcomes poets and changemakers in the margins.

More about this year's theme

In November 2024, poets from around the triangle joined together at THIS IS REST, a listening forum by Poets’ Playground, to discuss and understand what’s needed in our community as we reckon with dramatic social change. Since then, Poets’ Playground has responded to the community with four more events that nourished the body and soul, magnified the light within, sheltered like-hearted creators, and burned away what’s no longer serving us. The Triangle Poetry Fest will complete the cycle and begin a new one.

Triangle Poetry Festival is a Third Angle Poets Production.

About Third Angle Poets at Boxyard RTP:

Founded in 2024, Third Angle Poets is a collective of seasoned arts organizers from across the Triangle. In partnership with Boxyard RTP, Third Angle creates one-of-a-kind interactive events for poets and changemakers to share their voice, hone their craft, and collaborate for social good – including the quarterly Poets’ Playground series and Triangle Poetry Festival. By showcasing poetry, we seek to foster vulnerability and trust. By catalyzing conversations between artists and activists, we help meet the immediate- and long-term needs of our community—while fueling our souls.

Cancellations and Refunds

If you can't make it, please send a note to programming@rtp.org so we can release your spot to someone on the waitlist.

Full refunds are available for cancellations at least 7 days in advance. Refunds requested at least 7 days prior to the event will be processed to your original payment method within 10 business days of your request. Please reach out to your financial institution for more information on when the refunded amount will return to your account.