If thinking about poetry gives you butterflies in your stomach, we have something for you.

One of the best features about the Indianapolis poetry community is how welcoming everyone is. 

Feeling brave enough to face the crowd but haven’t memorized your work? Not a problem; take your notebook with you and read from the page. 

It can be tough to put yourself out there. But getting the chance to share your work, spend time with other creatives and listen to all kinds of writing being performed is worth a few nerves when you step on stage. 

Use this list of poetry and spoken word events around Indianapolis to get started.

Kafe’ Kuumba

🗓️ 7-9 p.m. first Thursday of the month
📍 Kheprw Institute, 3802 N. Illinois St.
🎟️ Free

For 38 years, Kafe’ Kuumba has hosted open mics, making it Indiana’s oldest-running poetry open mic. Poets looking to be part of such a legacy can join a rotating cast of hosts once a month. Follow Kafe’ Kuumba on Facebook for videos of performances from previous events. Kafe’ Kuumba is all-ages and all-levels, but expect to see some of the city’s most celebrated poets perform.

Poets Laureate of Lawrence

🗓️ 7 p.m. fourth Thursday of the month
📍 Theater at the Fort, 8970 Otis Ave.
🎟️ Free

The small venue, which is part of Arts for Lawrence, has a classroom feeling and attendees enjoy a featured reader who often includes a presentation as part of their program. October will feature poet M.A. Dubbs, an award-winning Mexican American and LGBTQ+ writer from Indiana, and a discussion about A.I. and the ethics of writers using it.

An open mic follows the reader’s presentation. If the words “poet laureate” sound intimidating, don’t worry; this is an all-ages, all-levels event.

IndyUntitled Poetry Open Mic & Workshop

🗓️ 4-7 p.m. every second Saturday of the month
📍 Indy Reads, 1066 Virginia Ave.
🎟️ Pay-what-you-can

IndyUntitled describes itself as an open mic for “the timid and confident, the professional and the novice, the performers and the spectators.” The event begins with an hour-long writing workshop. Participants then have 30 minutes to mingle with others before the 90-minute open mic starts.

A $10 donation covers admission for one person, but attendees who can’t afford the cost are not turned away. IndyUntitled is an independent writers’ collective whose mission includes removing barriers to free art and literacy programming. IndyUntitled is an all-ages event.

The Irving Theater Poetry Open Mic

🗓️ 7-9 p.m. every Thursday
📍 Irving Theater, 5505 E. Washington St.
🎟️ Free

The weekly open mic at the Irving Theater features local poets sharing original work. The event takes place on the deck (weather permitting) and is open to all ages. Described as a “completely nonjudgmental and safe space,” the event is ideal for first-timers.

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April 17, 2024April 18, 2024

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4 open mic nights for poets

by Chi Sherman, Mirror Indy
September 23, 2026

<h1>4 open mic nights for poets</h1> <p class="byline">by Chi Sherman, Mirror Indy <br />September 23, 2026</p> <p>If thinking about poetry gives you butterflies in your stomach, we have something for you.</p> <p>One of the best features about the Indianapolis poetry community is how welcoming everyone is.&nbsp;</p> <p>Feeling brave enough to face the crowd but haven’t memorized your work? Not a problem; take your notebook with you and read from the page.&nbsp;</p> <p>It can be tough to put yourself out there. But getting the chance to share your work, spend time with other creatives and listen to all kinds of writing being performed is worth a few nerves when you step on stage.&nbsp;</p> <p>Use this list of poetry and spoken word events around Indianapolis to get started.</p> <div class="wp-block-group alignright"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/kafe_kuumba_photo.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-18476" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">James Officer (left) and James Depp (right) were longtime supporters of local poets and artists through the Midtown Writers Association and Kafe Kuumba. </figcaption></figure> </p></div> <h2 id="h-kafe-kuumba" class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/KafeKuumba" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kafe' Kuumba</a></h2> <p>🗓️ 7-9 p.m. first Thursday of the month<br />📍 Kheprw Institute, <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/u8wtZ6Qx7MBLzNnZ8" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">3802 N. Illinois St</a>.<br />🎟️ Free</p> <p>For 38 years, Kafe’ Kuumba has hosted open mics, making it Indiana’s oldest-running poetry open mic. Poets looking to be part of such a legacy can join a rotating cast of hosts once a month. Follow Kafe' Kuumba on Facebook for videos of performances from previous events. Kafe’ Kuumba is all-ages and all-levels, but expect to see some of the city’s most celebrated poets perform.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <h2 id="h-poets-laureate-of-lawrence" class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.artsforlawrence.org/events-1/poets-laureate-of-lawrence-ai-workshop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Poets Laureate of Lawrence</a></h2> <p>🗓️ 7 p.m. fourth Thursday of the month<br />📍 Theater at the Fort, <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/x72ZvHy9xd9nrHTMA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">8970 Otis Ave</a>.<br />🎟️ Free</p> <p>The small venue, which is part of Arts for Lawrence, has a classroom feeling and attendees enjoy a featured reader who often includes a presentation as part of their program. October will feature poet <a href="https://madubbspoetry.wordpress.com/about-me/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">M.A. Dubbs</a>, an award-winning Mexican American and LGBTQ+ writer from Indiana, and a discussion about A.I. and the ethics of writers using it.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/35eb7a_ccfb8521cfab480f83cbf339e20c20b7mv2-1024x502.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-91417" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Originally known as the Post Theatre, the building was constructed in 1929. Today, it is the only Fort Harrison building still being used for its original purpose - a gathering space for entertainment and performances. </figcaption></figure> <p>An open mic follows the reader’s presentation. If the words “poet laureate” sound intimidating, don’t worry; this is an all-ages, all-levels event.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <h2 id="h-indyuntitled-poetry-open-mic-amp-workshop" class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://indyuntitled.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">IndyUntitled Poetry Open Mic &amp; Workshop</a></h2> <p>🗓️ 4-7 p.m. every second Saturday of the month<br />📍 Indy Reads, <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/YkqGmXmbReVKtx4S9" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">1066 Virginia Ave</a>.<br />🎟️ Pay-what-you-can</p> <p>IndyUntitled describes itself as an open mic for “the timid and confident, the professional and the novice, the performers and the spectators.” The event begins with an hour-long writing workshop. Participants then have 30 minutes to mingle with others before the 90-minute open mic starts.</p> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Indy-Reads.jpg" alt="Two people stand on a stage in front of a seated audience, speaking or perhaps singing." class="wp-image-48568" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Artists perform at an Indy Reads open mic.</figcaption></figure> <p>A $10 donation covers admission for one person, but attendees who can’t afford the cost are not turned away. IndyUntitled is an independent writers' collective whose mission includes removing barriers to free art and literacy programming. IndyUntitled is an all-ages event.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <div class="wp-block-group alignright"> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/06282026_IrvingtonPrints005-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-84741" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Scenes in Irvington on June 28, 2026.</figcaption></figure> </p></div> <h2 id="h-the-irving-theater-poetry-open-mic" class="wp-block-heading"><a href="https://www.attheirving.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Irving Theater Poetry Open Mic</a></h2> <p>🗓️ 7-9 p.m. every Thursday<br />📍 Irving Theater, <a href="https://maps.app.goo.gl/RHD5FeR8GXt6KzBcA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">5505 E. Washington St</a>.<br />🎟️ Free</p> <p>The weekly open mic at the Irving Theater features local poets sharing original work. The event takes place on the deck (weather permitting) and is open to all ages. Described as a “completely nonjudgmental and safe space,” the event is ideal for first-timers.</p> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide" /> <div class="wp-block-group related-story has-light-gray-background-color has-background" style="padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)"> </div> <p>This &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/open-mic-poetry-indianapolis-new-established/&quot;&gt;article&lt;/a&gt; first appeared on &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org&quot;&gt;Mirror Indy&lt;/a&gt; and is republished here under a &lt;a target=&quot;_blank&quot; href=&quot;https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/4.0/&quot;&gt;Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;img src=&quot;https://i0.wp.com/mirrorindy.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/cropped-Mirror-Indy-square-logo-1.png?resize=150%2C150&amp;amp;ssl=1&quot; style=&quot;width:1em;height:1em;margin-left:10px;&quot;&gt;</p> &lt;img id=&quot;republication-tracker-tool-source&quot; src=&quot;https://mirrorindy.org/?republication-pixel=true&amp;post=91578&amp;amp;ga4=G-X0R0QW371R&quot; style=&quot;width:1px;height:1px;&quot;&gt;&lt;script&gt; PARSELY = { autotrack: false, onload: function() { PARSELY.beacon.trackPageView({ url: &quot;https://mirrorindy.org/open-mic-poetry-indianapolis-new-established/&quot;, urlref: window.location.href }); } } &lt;/script&gt; &lt;script id=&quot;parsely-cfg&quot; src=&quot;//cdn.parsely.com/keys/mirrorindy.org/p.js&quot;&gt;&lt;/script&gt;

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