Seattle-based poetry nonprofit Cascadia Poetics Lab is set to host the 10th Anniversary Cascadia Poetry Festival from October 9-11, 2026. The event will feature workshops, panel discussions, and readings from prominent poets and academics from the Cascadia bioregion and beyond, taking place at the Rainier Beach Community Club and Kubota Garden.
The festival is a gathering of poets and bioregionalists exploring poetry's connection to environmental, political, historical, and sociological pursuits within the Cascadia bioregion. Its goal is to consider how prioritizing natural and cultural boundaries over arbitrary political ones can address climate change and other pressing social and political issues. This theme is especially timely as communities worldwide grapple with environmental crises and seek innovative approaches to advocacy and resilience.
Featured speakers include allia abdullah-matta, Greg Bem, Amaranth Borsuk, Bill Carty, Xavier Cavazos, Zach Charles, Ching-in Chen, Stephen Collis, Gary Copeland Lilley, Tess Gallagher, Gabriella Gutiérrez y Muhs, Geneviève Hicks, Alicia Hokanson, Nadine Maestas, Dion O'Reilly, Roxi Power, Mateo Quispe, Linda Russo, Sharon Thesen, Miriam Tobin, Rodrigo Toscano, Matt Trease, and Terri Witek. These voices bring diverse perspectives on poetry's role in social and environmental activism, offering attendees a rich tapestry of ideas and creative expression.
The festival's workshops will delve into practices of bioregional poetics, poetry as politics, lyric and form, the connection between internal and external worlds, and poetry in times of crisis. These sessions are designed to equip participants with tools to integrate poetic practice with civic engagement, potentially inspiring new forms of environmental and social advocacy. An afterparty will be held on Friday and Saturday nights at a nearby location in Rainier Beach, fostering community and informal exchange among attendees.
Sponsors include 4Culture Sustained Support and 4Culture Public Free Access, Creative West, the Vogt Family Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Seattle Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs, ArtsFund, La Sala, and CPL Supporters. This backing underscores the festival's significance in the cultural landscape and its commitment to making the arts accessible.
Registration for gold passes, workshop packages, reading packages, and student passes is now open via the festival website. A complete schedule is available at the event's schedule page, and more information about Cascadia Poetics Lab's offerings can be found on their main website.
The festival's focus on bioregionalism—a concept that emphasizes natural and cultural boundaries over political ones—could influence how leaders in business and technology think about sustainability and community engagement. By highlighting poetry as a vehicle for political and environmental commentary, the event may encourage cross-disciplinary dialogue that sparks innovative solutions to global challenges. For industry leaders, this festival represents an opportunity to explore the intersection of arts and activism, potentially informing corporate social responsibility strategies and community relations.
As the festival celebrates its 10th anniversary, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of poetry to provoke thought and inspire action. The Cascadia Poetry Festival not only showcases literary talent but also serves as a platform for addressing urgent issues of our time, making it a significant event for anyone interested in the role of culture in shaping a sustainable future.
