The Big Church Poetry Slam has officially unveiled the twelve poets and 4 reserves who will progress from the audition stage to this year’s Live Semi-Final, marking another major milestone for one of the UK’s fastest-growing Christian spoken word competitions.
Presented by Big Church Festival, AStepFWD, POETIC UK and Urban Wordsmiths, the Poetry Slam continues to uncover gifted communicators who use spoken word to share stories of faith, ask difficult questions and point audiences towards hope.
This year’s response exceeded expectations. Entries arrived from across the country, each bringing a unique perspective to the competition theme, “Valley and the Mountain Top.” Selecting the next round was no easy task, with the judging panel faced with a strong set of entries.
After careful consideration, 12 poets have secured guaranteed places at the Live Semi-Final, while 4 additional poets have been named as reserves. Should any of the finalists be unable to compete, the reserve poets will step into the competition.
On Saturday 18 July, all eyes turn to KCBC London (King’s Cross Baptist Church), where the shortlisted poets will perform live before an audience and an experienced judging panel including renowned poets Storm Cecile and Poetess Jess. From there, the top performers will earn a place in the Big Church Poetry Slam Grand Final, taking place on the Spoken Word Stage at Big Church Festival this August.
The competition has already produced memorable moments. In 2025, JayKSpeaks delivered a standout performance to become the Big Church Poetry Slam Champion. This year’s semi-finalists now have the chance to write the next chapter and follow that same path to the festival stage.
The 2026 Live Semi-Finalists
Congratulations to the following poets, listed in alphabetical order.
Guaranteed Places
- Alexandra J
- Alisha Parchment
- Blessed Poetry
- Dominic Aj
- DUKE AL
- Erhi E
- Godlovesnatalieandyou
- Ilo
- Marie Verheul
- Rosamund Frances
- Tobi
- Tom
Reserve Poets
- Rochelle LoRo
- Rhema_reciter
- The understated poet
- Zoe Yarrow
Every poet selected brought something different to the auditions. Some moved the judges through deeply personal stories. Others challenged listeners with bold reflections on faith, while several demonstrated remarkable skill in their writing and delivery. Together they represent a broad mix of voices, styles and experiences that promise an outstanding evening of spoken word.
The Big Church Poetry Slam is the result of four organisations working together with a shared vision. Big Church Festival provides one of Europe’s biggest stages for Christian artists. Urban Wordsmiths, founded by Dai Woolridge, has spent years developing spoken word across churches, schools and festivals. POETIC UK exists to champion poets and create spaces where spoken word can flourish, while AStepFWD continues to build platforms that help Christian creatives grow, connect and reach new audiences.
Together, they are investing in a community of writers and performers whose words have the power to encourage, challenge and inspire. Join Us at the Live Semi-Final:
EVENT DETAILS: BIG CHURCH POETRY SLAM LIVE SEMI-FINAL
Venue: Kings Cross Baptist Church (KCBC) London
Saturday 18 July 2026 || Doors Open: 6:00pm
Congratulations to every poet who entered this year’s competition, and especially to the sixteen who have progressed to the next stage.
The auditions are over. Now the real contest begins!
