Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Lower East Side, New York, NY (2026)

01/13/2026

Grab hold of your credit cards! We’ve released some new NPC merch! Online Exclusive Shirts, Sweaters, and Totes in all new colors can be found using the link in our Bio or at nuyorican.org/merch

01/08/2026

Check out our monthly Slam Workshop: Foundations & Frameworks, facilitated by 🎙️

Attendees receive a craft mini-lesson and personalized coaching. Reserve your FREE ticket for this month’s online workshop TODAY. This event is funded in part by Poets & Writers with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.

01/06/2026

Throughout the Spanish-speaking world, Three Kings Day is celebrated on January 6th to mark the birth of Jesus and the gifts brought to him by the Magi, and is a celebration that is prevalent in the Loisaida community in Manhattan. One way we honor that history is by highlighting the Loisaida musical, “Gifts of the Magi”, written by the late Angie Hernández, a fierce advocate for Boricua arts, education and culture. Before being rewritten by Hernández, the production was originally a longer theatrical play titled “The Peace/La Paz”, was showcased at the Henry Street Playhouse, and was co-written with Nuyorican Poet, Tato Laviera in the 80s. In the year 2000, with the encouragement and support of Carlos “Chino” Garcia and CHARAS, Hernández’s production evolved into a shorter, 30 minute production, with captivating musical stylings by showcasing traditional Puerto Rican parrandas and Nuyorican Soul Jams. With accomplished musician and Hernández’s son, David “Daso” Soto at the helm of production, her love for the arts was brought to the stage for the entire community to witness and enjoy.

In 2022, she directed “Gifts of the Magi” at St. Mark’s Church. The beautiful costumes, multifaceted cast, and music were a true testament to Hernández’s passion for musical theatre, Christianity, and the Loisaida community. After she lost her fierce battle with cancer in 2024, the Loisaida community continues to honor her legacy of highlighting Boricua education, culture and arts by showcasing her play throughout the Three Kings Day season and highlighting all art with a passion that she would be proud of.

01/01/2026

Check out the Nuyorican Poets Cafe Digital Cal for January!

Between global pandemics and hosting our events off-site due to the past few years have been a whirlwind of change for our organization. However, we’re determined to keep traditions from the past 50 years alive!

While preparing for we went through our archives and found a water-logged binder full of years of monthly event calendars! As we get ready to step into our renewed venue we want to keep these time-tested, classic methods alive.

That means that despite being in a new setting, our OG’s can expect the same freedom, the same artistic trailblazing, and the same awesome community that was first developed half a century ago by our legendary founders! Though the world moves on every day, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe is here to stay!

12/30/2025

Celebrate Three Kings Day with the Nuyorican Poets Cafe at BPCA! Enjoy a Bougie Charcuterie spread and arts & crafts with followed by a presentation of Angie Hernandez' bilingual musical for children "Gifts of the Magi."

The celebration will conclude with an open mic for poets in attendance hosted by Nuyorican’s Executive Director,

12/25/2025

Tomorrow, the room fills again.

The lights rise at the Apollo’s Victoria Theater and 8 Final Friday winners return for one last showdown in 2025.

One poet will leave as the 2025 Nuyorican Poets Cafe Grand Slam Champion.

$1,000 on the line. History echoing within in the walls. Electricity running through the crowd. We couldn’t be any prouder, so join us for this historic night!

Doors at 8:30. Show at 9.
Tickets: https://www.nuyorican.org/grandslam2025?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAdGRleAO6XwtleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAaew23LzDQ1FRpFHtGxiRGvQhBtnMBqZ2knYAbYEGCM6YCBmGl-_UBnVikJWzA_aem_iBfVlwG4bXxE1hXfo3fH4Q

See you there ❤️

12/23/2025

Sorry Slam Crowd! Our Nuyorican Bowery Slam Dec 29th is cancelled due to the holiday season.

But don’t worry, we’ll be back January 5th, 2026 at the Bowery Poetry Club to resume our normally scheduled events.

Thank you for your support during this week-long break. We look forward to seeing y’all soon!

12/19/2025

Our Nuyorican GRAND SLAM lineup has been confirmed! Let’s all congratulate: .Marquis .Cs.Lens .Me.Ugba and !

The will occur December 26th at the Apollo Stages at the Victoria!! For all who hope to attend, tickets are live in our bio NOW! Your ticket includes seating for the slam as well as an invite to a private mixer at the 🥂 Click the Link in our BIO to get the best seats in the house before they sell out like last year!

We are so excited and blessed to be hosted in one of the most historic theaters in the world for 2025’s Premier poetry event! Poets are not only competing to be this year’s Nuyorican Poetry Slam Champion but also to secure their spot on 2026’s National NPC Slam Team.

So what are you waiting for? Get your tix today and be a part of a Poetry Slam for the history books!

12/18/2025

The Nuyorican Poets Cafe presents the Grand Slam of 2025 a spoken word extravaganza. Co-hosted by Paul con Queso and Matthew Marroquín. After 12 months of weekly slam winners competing every Final Friday, the time has come for one poet to be named the Grand Slam Champion of 2025 winning $1,000, a produced show in our renovated building, and potential spot on our 2026 national slam team. The Nuyorican Poets Cafe is a nonprofit organization rooted in the legacy of spoken word truth-telling. Founded by Puerto Rican/Afro-Caribbean poets and visionaries, we honor this sacred history by creating an accessible forum for developing poetic, theatrical, musical, and visual/media works in the spirit of experimentalism and downtown NYC subcultures. Since closing our building for a major renovation, we have taken our programs offsite at different locations throughout NYC, the country, and the world. We are happy to bring the 2025 Grand Slam to The Apollo Stages at The Victoria‼️ https://www.apollotheater.org/event/nuyorican-poets-cafe-grand-slam-2025

12/15/2025

Wednesday Dec 17th, take your performance art to the next level! Sign up for The Nuyorican Open Mic .center hosted by 🎙️

You'll get to perform in a professional studio setting and elevate your work. Sign ups only occur in person and are limited to 15 guaranteed spots for those who arrive prior to 7pm, so arrive early to secure yours! Tix can be bought online at nuyorican.org/calendar or in person!

12/12/2025

grows nearer & .Marquis is officially confirmed as a contender! As you can plainly see, the level of performance skill and poetic talent from all of our qualified poets will be sky high! If you think you can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest poets in the WORLD, come to our events to clinch the final spot in our bracket!

This is not just a call out to all poets who want to secure their competitor qualification but also to all Slam Poetry lovers who want to see the most PREMIER NYC Slam of 2025! For those who want to get tickets before they sell out head to nuyorican.org/grandslam TODAY! Until then, we wish all of our beloved poets the blessings of our ancestors!

12/08/2025

Check out our monthly Foundations & Frameworks: Slam Workshop facilitated by 🎙️ Attendees receive personalized editing/performance feedback on one poem in progress. Your spot is only guaranteed if you reserve your FREE ticket for this month’s session TODAY.

12/05/2025

The will occur December 26th at the Apollo Stages at the Victoria!! For all who hope to attend, tickets are live TODAY! Your ticket includes seating for the slam as well as an invite to a private mixer at the 🥂 Click the Link in our BIO to get the best seats in the house before they sell out like last year!

We are so excited and blessed to be hosted in one of the most historic theaters in the world for 2025’s Premier poetry event! Poets are not only competing to be this year’s Nuyorican Poetry Slam Champion but also to secure their spot on 2026’s National NPC Slam Team.

So what are you waiting for? Get your tix today and be a part of a Poetry Slam for the history books!

Ticket Link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/0000635FEE72B1B3

12/03/2025

Whether it’s off-site or online, the Final Friday Slam at the Nuyorican Poets Cafe has been hitting! In the final slam prior to this year’s GRAND SLAM, Yex put on a hell of a show! Her victory wasn’t easily secured, but after a tie in the final round, Yex pulled ahead and placed herself amongst 2025’s Final Friday Slam Champions.

Yex’s work beautifully highlights her life as a mother, a samaritan invested in giving back, and her tough upbringing in marginalized communities. Despite many hardships, her poetry centers around the fact that she’s never been beaten down or forced to make concessions on her morals by difficult circumstances. Just as she did during November’s Final Friday Slam, Yex rises to the occasion and overcomes all obstacles on the way to the top! And both the Slam poetry scene along with the communities she hails from are better for her tenacious efforts!

We want to give every shout out to for her amazing performances at this month’s slam, and hope to see you in future Nuyorican Poets Cafe Poetry events. Give her a follow and congratulate her for her amazing talent!

11/30/2025

The first Wednesday of the month is our Womxn Orator Wednesday hosted by the Nuyorican 2024 Grand Slam Winner featuring The event is filmed live from the .center and posted to our YouTube where poets can find a high-quality video and audio capture of their performance! Sign ups only occur in person and are limited to 15 guaranteed spots for those who arrive prior to 7pm, so arrive early to secure yours.

Tix are only $10 to participate or watch in-person, professionally filmed events alongside our creative community! Get your ticket at the door or order online today at nuyorican.org/calendar This project is made possible in part through the Mid Atlantic Folk and Traditional Arts - Community Projects program of Mid Atlantic Arts with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

11/24/2025

MON: There is only 1 Nuyorican Bowery Slam left to help you reach the GRAND SLAM Stage! Winners of NBS are given a $20 cash prize and invited to compete in Final Friday (only 1 left!). Final Friday winners get a feature at a Nuyorican Open Mic and nominate themselves for our $1000 GRAND SLAM. The top 8 scorers with a NBS Win and an FFS win are going to be personally invited to this year’s GRAND SLAM! This Monday’s Nuyorican Bowery Slam is hosted by 💥🏙️

WED: Take your performance art to the next level! Sign up for The Nuyorican Open Mic .center hosted by 🎙️ You'll get to perform in a professional studio setting and elevate your work! Signups only occur in person and are limited to 15 guaranteed spots for those who arrive prior to 7pm, so arrive early to secure yours

THU: Tune into The Online Open Mic hosted by 🎙️ This week’s theme is Togetherness (Blessed to Be...) {2-minute madness}. We have a new Zoom ID for all of our TOOM events: 860-4964-4756. Sign up and reserve one of 20 limited Artist RSVPs on Wed 8pm ET, available within 24 hours before showtime!

FRI: The Final Friday Slam is finally here! We are taking winners from this month’s Nuyorican Bowery Slam and pitting them against each other FOR THE LAST time before we gear up for our GRAND SLAM. This month’s Final Friday will take place virtually and tickets are donation based! If you’re a poetry lover or a skilled poet who’s not from NYC that wants to try their luck with the lottery, Friday Nov 28th is the time to manifest your poetic dreams! To top it off, we will also officially announce where to find GRAND SLAM tickets!

PATREON: For $10/month you get AD-FREE access to our ENTIRE catalogue of past event recordings, as well as two professionally recorded Nuyorican Bowery Slams and a Final Friday Slam video every Month!

NOTICE: By attending and/or participating in events by the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, you acknowledge that your voice and/or likeness may be recorded and/or photographed.

11/23/2025

Shoutout to the Judges who will be scoring and making sure the The GRAND SLAM’S performances are on point: &

Thank you so much to our amazing judges. We will make this GRAND SLAM a day to remember!

11/22/2025

The grows nearer & is officially confirmed as a contender! As you can plainly see, the level of performance skill and poetic talent from all of our qualified poets will be sky high! If you think you can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest poets in the WORLD, come to our events to clinch the final spot in our bracket!

This is not just a call out to all poets who want to secure their competitor qualification but also to all Slam Poetry lovers who want to see the most PREMIER NYC Slam of 2025! For those who want to get tickets as soon as they drop, sign up to our mailing list and check our emails within these coming weeks because BIG things will soon be happening! Until then, we wish all of our beloved poets the blessings of our ancestors!

11/18/2025

On Saturday, November 22nd from 4PM-6PM, our Teen Open Mic with makes a return! Through a special collaboration with and , teens will be given a chance to share/ practice any form of art in front of a supportive audience. The event is FREE for all teens. Adults are encouraged to make a $10 donation.

11/17/2025

Y’all gotta check out this INSANE line-up of performers at this Thursday, Nov 20th! Get your tickets now to see bombshell performances from OG Hip-Hop greats like .simone and a spoken word set from our very own 2025 Nuyorican Slam Team!

Shout out to all of our collaborators and our amazing community for making partnership events like this happen!

11/16/2025

Wednesday Nov 19th, take your performance art to the next level! Sign up for The Nuyorican Open Mic .center hosted by 🎙️

You'll get to perform in a professional studio setting and elevate your work. Signups only occur in person and are limited to 15 guaranteed spots for those who arrive prior to 7pm, so arrive early to secure yours! Tix can be bought online at nuyorican.org/calendar or in person!

11/10/2025

There are only 3 Nuyorican Bowery Slams left to help you reach the Grand Slam Stage! Winners of NBS are given a $20 cash prize and invited to compete in Final Friday (only 1 left!). Final Friday winners get a feature at a Nuyorican Open Mic and nominate themselves for our $1000 Grand Slam. The top 8 scorers with a NBS Win and an FFS win are going to be personally invited to this year’s Grand Slam! This Monday’s Nuyorican Bowery Slam is hosted by 💥🏙️

TUES: Our monthly Slam Workshop: Foundations & Frameworks is facilitated by 🎙️Attendees receive a craft mini-lesson and personalized coaching. Reserve your FREE ticket for this month’s online workshop TODAY.

WED: Take your performance art to the next level! Sign up for The Nuyorican Open Mic .center hosted by 🎙️ You'll get to perform in a professional studio setting and elevate your work! Sign ups only occur in person and are limited to 15 guaranteed spots for those who arrive prior to 7pm, so arrive early to secure yours

THU: Tune into The Online Open Mic hosted by 🎙️ This week’s theme is History's Mysteries (Conspiracies). We have a new zoom ID for all of our TOOM events: 860-4964-4756. Sign up and reserve one of 20 limited Artist RSVPs on Wed 8pm ET, available within 24 hours before showtime!

PATREON: For $10/month you get AD-FREE access to our ENTIRE catalogue of past event recordings, as well as two professionally recorded Nuyorican Bowery Slams and a Final Friday Slam video every Month!

NOTICE: By attending and/or participating in events by the Nuyorican Poets Cafe, you acknowledge that your voice and/or likeness may be recorded and/or photographed.

11/09/2025

Wednesday Nov 12th, take your performance art to the next level! Sign up for The Nuyorican Open Mic .center hosted by 🎙️

You'll get to perform in a professional studio setting and elevate your work. Sign ups only occur in person and are limited to 15 guaranteed spots for those who arrive prior to 7pm, so arrive early to secure yours! Tix can be bought online at nuyorican.org/calendar or in person!

11/07/2025

The grows nearer & is officially confirmed as a competing poet! As you can plainly see, the level of performance skill and poetic talent from all of our qualified poets will be sky high! If you think you can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of the greatest poets in the WORLD, come to our events to clinch the final spot in our bracket!

But, this is not just a call out to all poets who want to secure their competitor qualification but also to all Slam Poetry lovers who want to see the most PREMIER NYC Slam of 2025! For those who want to get tickets as soon as they drop, sign up to our mailing list and check our emails within these coming weeks because BIG things will soon be happening! Until then, we wish all of our beloved poets the luck of our ancestors!

11/04/2025

Check out our monthly Foundations & Frameworks: Slam Workshop facilitated by 🎙️

Attendees receive personalized editing/performance feedback on one poem in progress. Your spot is only guaranteed if you reserve your FREE ticket for this month’s session!

Nuyorican Poets Cafe