From October 15 to October 17, 2026, downtown Newark will serve as the epicenter of American spoken word, literature, and performance art. Presented by the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and produced by the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), the Dodge Poetry Festival—North America’s largest poetry gathering—returns with a three-day, citywide celebration of language, community, and social justice.

Spanning stages at NJPAC, the Robert Treat Hotel, Express Newark, historical churches, and neighborhood cultural spaces, the festival invites audiences of all ages to put down their screens and experience poetry live.

More than 3,000 students, teachers, and poetry enthusiasts are expected to participate in workshops, open mics, panels, and free family programming designed to inspire generations of writers.

Marquee Headliners and Key Highlights

The 2026 lineup bridges legendary cultural icons with emerging spoken word stars, highlighting poetry as a performing art, a community resource, and a catalyst for social change:

  • Patti Smith (Songs and Stories): A rare, intimate headlining evening on Friday, Oct. 16, at NJPAC Prudential Hall blending iconic music, prose, and spoken word.
  • Def Poetry Reunion: A high-energy Saturday night showcase featuring alumni from the groundbreaking HBO series Def Poetry Jam.
  • U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze & Literary Masters: Readings and panels featuring Pulitzer Prize winner Tyehimba Jess, Elizabeth Acevedo, Jericho Brown, Patricia Smith, Terrance Hayes, and Danez Smith.
  • National Literary Coalitions: Featured showcases in partnership with Cave Canem (celebrating its 30th anniversary), Kundiman, CantoMundo, Lampblack, and Newark’s own New Jeru Slam Team.
  • Free Family Fun Day: A day of outdoor performances, community workshops, and family activities on Chambers Plaza on Saturday, Oct. 17.
  • Local Business Integration: A pop-up bookstore and author signings hosted by Newark’s historic Source of Knowledge Bookstore.

Three-Day Festival Schedule Overview

Day 1: Craft, Legacy & Community Mixers

Thursday, October 15

  • 11:00 AM – 3:10 PM: Academy of American Poets series at NJPAC Victoria Theater, covering grief, the art of revision, and ancestral lineage with Kimiko Hahn, Ilya Kaminsky, Jericho Brown, and Natalie Diaz.
  • 3:30 PM – 4:50 PM: Making a Life in Poetry panel featuring Patricia Smith and Glenis Redmond.
  • 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM: EvoluCulture’s Open Mic & Mixer at NICO Kitchen + Bar.

Day 2: Youth Engagement, Oral Traditions & Patti Smith

Friday, October 16

  • 9:30 AM – 1:50 PM: Parallel panels across downtown (NJPAC, Robert Treat Hotel, Express Newark, Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral) covering social justice, speculative futures, Black writers, and youth empowerment.
  • 11:00 AM – 12:10 PM: Griots, Troubadours and MCs: Poetry and the Oral Tradition panels across multiple venues.
  • 4:00 PM: Redemption Time film screening and talkback at NJPAC Victoria Theater.
  • 8:00 PM: Patti Smith: Songs and Stories at NJPAC Prudential Hall.

Day 3: Family Fun, Workshops & Def Poetry Reunion

Saturday, October 17

  • 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM: Free Family Fun Day on Chambers Plaza; Youth Anthology Release at Newark Public Library.
  • 12:30 PM – 3:10 PM: Dedicated anniversary readings for Cave Canem, CantoMundo, Lampblack Lit, and Kundiman.
  • 5:00 PM: Def Poetry Reunion at NJPAC Victoria Theater.
  • 8:00 PM: Do the Write Thing closing showcase at NJPAC Prudential Hall.

Festival Venues & Neighborhood Footprint

The festival footprint spans key cultural institutions across downtown Newark, encouraging visitors to explore the city’s historic Broad Street and Arts District corridors:

  • NJPAC Campus: Prudential Hall, Victoria Theater, Parsonnet Room, and Chambers Plaza.
  • Downtown Partner Venues: Robert Treat Hotel (Pennsylvania & New Jersey Rooms), Express Newark Lecture Hall, New Jersey Historical Society, and Newark Public Library.
  • Historic Houses of Worship: Trinity & St. Philip’s Cathedral and First Baptist Peddie Memorial Church.

Passes and Ticketing

Three-day and one-day festival passes are on sale now. Festival passes cover standard panels, readings, and open mics, while special evening headlining events (including Patti Smith and the Def Poetry Reunion) require separate ticket purchases.

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