York Literature Festival 2026
Students from the Dead Poets Society at York St John and the Slam Soc at the University of York come together in a battle of poetry and spoken word. Hosted by York’s Say Owt crew, each poet has three minutes to impress the judges and win fame and glory for their University!
Plus special guest: Bradley Taylor. Bradley is an award-winning poet born and based in Birmingham. In 2024 he won the Roundhouse Poetry Slam, the biggest poetry slam in history. In 2025 he released his debut collection ‘You Missed The Best Part’ before embarking on a nationwide tour. On BBC Radio 6 Music, Craig Charles described him as ‘a brand new voice and a fresh perspective on the art of poetry and performance’.