Public Schedule

 Day 1 | Thursday | December 10 2026 | Ali & The Hive

Kompa Dance Workshop | 5:45 – 7:00 PM | Ali Courtyard

Ease into the festival with movement, music, and culture. This beginner-friendly Kompa workshop introduces participants to the rich traditions of Haiti's signature dance while encouraging connection, confidence, and community. Whether you're stepping onto the dance floor for the first time or brushing up on your moves, this energetic session is designed to bring people together through music and movement 

Competition Prelims | 7:30 – 9:45 PM | Ali Arts Center & The Hive

The competition officially begins as 40 of the world's best poets take the stage for the preliminary rounds of the Exit 36 Slam Poetry Festival. Across two venues, artists deliver powerful original work as they compete for a coveted spot in the next round. Expect unforgettable performances, fierce competition, and the electric energy that has made Exit 36 one of the country's premier slam poetry festivals. 

Poetry'Oke Open Mic | 10:00 – 11:00 PM | Ali Courtyard

A fan-favorite returns! Poetry'Oke invites poets to perform over a live instrumental. Choose the perfect beat or leave it to the DJ for a surprise musical twist. Whether it's hip-hop, soul, Afrobeat, jazz, or R&B, each performance becomes a unique collaboration between poet and music. With no scores or competition, Poetry'Oke is all about creativity, spontaneity, and celebrating the joy of performance. 

 Day 2 | Friday | December 11, 2026| Ali & The Hive

Workshops 5:30 – 7:00 PM | Ali & The Hive

Workshop 1 : The Fundamentals of Creative Entrepreneurship 

Award-winning poet and creative entrepreneur Ashlee Haze left her government career at age 26 to pursue the arts full-time. Nearly a decade later, she has managed more than $1 million in budgets for artistic projects and productions. In The Fundamentals of Creative Entrepreneurship, Haze turns that real-world experience into a practical roadmap for artists ready to treat their creativity like a business.

This comprehensive workshop explores what it takes to start, strengthen, and scale a sustainable creative enterprise. Participants will learn tools for monetizing their art, identifying and growing their audience, developing a clear menu of products and services, and establishing both a professional business structure and digital presence. The workshop also covers essential financial practices, including budgeting, cash-flow management, tax best practices, and pricing.

Beyond the numbers, participants will learn how to quote their services confidently, use contracts, establish professional boundaries, and manage client expectations. Whether you are beginning to earn from your art or ready to become more intentional about the business behind your creativity, this workshop provides foundational tools to help you move from artist to creative entrepreneur.

Workshop 2 : The Magic of Mythology 

Facilitated by Ayanna Florence, "The Magic of Mythology" will enlighten attendees on storytelling techniques that will deepen and expand the layers of a poem, both technically and emotionally. This writing workshop aims to teach the poet how to weave personal   with historical reference to more deeply connect with the audience and the work itself. Beginning with their own stories, attendees will build upon them from the inside out, extending the metaphors in myths that already exist in the world and within us. This workshop asks the writer: what are some origin stories that matter to you? What myths do you relate to the most and why? What personal relationship do you have with the stories that raised you? How can you use this knowledge to tell deeper stories about yourself? Where can you find connection here? By the workshop's end, the myth, the storyteller, and the poem will become inextricable, tangible, and full of depth.

Competition Prelims | 7:30 – 9:45 PM | Ali Arts Center & The Hive

The competition continues with the last day of prelims to decide what top 20 poets, make it to semi-finals. Across two venues expect unforgettable performances, fierce competition, and the electric energy that has made Exit 36 one of the country's premier slam poetry festivals. 

Exit 36 After Dark | 10:00 – 11:00 PM | Ali Courtyard

A DJ late-night culture lounge where poetry, music, and nightlife collide. Poets freestyle over live DJ beats while featured artists jump in, creating a fluid mix of Afrobeat, R&B, hip-hop, and spoken word. This is not a competition or open mic it’s a curated space to sip cocktails, connect, and vibe with artists and community in an elevated, electric atmosphere. Come for the sound, stay for the culture.

Day 3 | Saturday | December 12, 2026| PBCC Theater

The Published Poet: Workshop | 10:00 – 11:30 AM | Pompano Beach Cultural Center

The Published Poet is an empowering workshop for poets ready to take their work beyond the page and into print. Whether you are dreaming of creating your first poetry collection, considering self-publishing, or exploring traditional publishing opportunities, this session will help you better understand the path from manuscript to book.

Participants will explore why publishing poetry matters, how a published collection can support creative growth and visibility, and what it takes to move from a collection of individual poems to a finished book. The workshop will cover the early stages of self-publishing, including preparing a manuscript, choosing a publishing route, researching publishers, pricing a book, and understanding printing options.

Through practical guidance and encouraging discussion, poets will gain a clearer view of their publishing choices and leave with useful steps to begin—or continue—the journey toward becoming a published author.

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Semi-Finals |12:00 – 2:00 PM | Pompano Beach Cultural Center

Start your day at the farmer’s market, then stick around for an afternoon of electrifying poetry! Watch as our top 20 poets go head-to-head in a high-energy showdown to earn their spot on the Final Stage.

Finals| 8:00 – 10:00 PM | Pompano Beach Cultural Center

The Top 10 Poets Battle It Out! An unforgettable night of poetry, food trucks, music, a full bar, and nothing but good vibes. Don’t miss this electrifying finale where words, rhythm, and performance collide!