Welcome to the 15th Annual All Writes Reserved
Youth Spoken Word Tournament
Fifteen years ago, we gathered 12 teams, a handful of mics, and a whole lot of belief in what young people have to say We built a full season in 12 weeks because we knew the voices were already there we just needed to make space.
Today, we begin again with 26 competing schools, including our first group of homeschool students. We have grown across cities and communities. We have weathered a pandemic We have written We have spoken We have continued - together.
To every teacher, student, Teaching Artist, judge, DJ, and audience member: THANK YOU. This only works because you show up. Year after year, you show up and show out. You remind us that spoken word is not just an art form, it is a living, breathing movement. It is vibrant. It is necessary. It is future-facing.
As you step into this year’s tournament, remember: your voice matters. Your story matters. There is only one you, and we are here to listen. Tell a poet you appreciate their words Clap poets all the way to the stage Cry when something moves you. Snap, because you know how we do.
This is a celebration of 15 years, but it is also a doorway into what comes next.
We have been building this house of words for a long time now Each year, it grows wider, stronger, more full of life. And still, at its core, it remains beautifully simple: a page, a mic, and people brave enough to tell the truth.
This is what the next chapter sounds like.
We are so glad you are here to be part of it.
Thank you for your voice, your presence, and your belief in what is possible.
Here’s to 15 years and to everything still to come
With love and gratitude, Zedeka
Meet the 2026 Festival Teams
Each year, All Writes Reserved reaches over 500 middle and high school students across 30+ schools in Nebraska and Southwest Iowa, providing free weekly poetry and peformance worksohps led by Nebraska Writesrs Collective Teaching Artists.
To get to tonight, these young poets spend months developing their craft - learning to spake their experiences into poetry, refining thier poerformance skills, and building confidence in their voices.
Bellvue East
Duchesne Academy
Fairbury Jr/Sr High
Meridian High School
Grand Island Senior High School
Hastings High School
Homeschool
Lewis & Clark Middle School
Lincoln Arts & Humanities
Lincoln East
Lincoln High School
Lincoln Northeast
Lincoln Northwest
Lincoln Southeast
Lincoln Southwest
Millard North
Millard South
Norfolk High School
Norris High School
Omaha Benson
Omaha Bryan
Omaha Burke
Omaha Central
Omaha South
Omaha Westview
All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage newriters org/awr-spokenword »
EVENT SCHEDULE
Lincoln Preliminary Bouts
March 23-25|5:30&7:30p
March 26 | 5:30p
Swanson Auditorium at UNL City Campus, 1400 R St
Omaha Preliminary Bouts
March30-31 | 5:30&7:30p
ReviveCenter,2402LizzieRobinson Ave
April 1-2 | 5:30 & 7:30p
TheDockatTheAshton,1229 Millwork Ave
Finals Semifinals
April14&16 | 5:30 & 7:30p
April28 | 7p
TheVenueatHighlander,2120N30th St , Omaha ScottHallatthe Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St , Omaha
Monthly Events
Two opportunities to join our community for an open mic and cash prize slam
OMAHA POETRY SLAM
2nd Saturday of each month
Local Art Plug 1722 St. Mary’s Ave, Ste 110
LINCOLN POETRY SLAM
2nd Thursday of each month
Larksong Writers Place 1600 N Cotner Blvd
Stay connected all year long!
Did you know the Nebraska Writers Collective has been building an archive of spoken word performances by students since our very first year?
Subscribe to our YouTube channel (@newriters) and see new uploads of bouts from 2026 and videos from each year of the tournament.
Join our Instagram community (@newriters) to hear about new events, see video highlights, and get free weekly writing prompts.
Investing in the Next Generation of Poets
Bringing spoken word poetry into classrooms and onto festival stages takes more than passion - it takes investment. each year, we commit over $1,000 per All Writes Reserved student to porvide the guidance, resources, and opportunites they need ot grow as writers and peformers.
This work is possible becuase of you. Thank you for believing in these young poets and making space for their voices to be heard.
Annette & Paul Smith Charitable Fund
Eric Buchanan
Mark & Suzanne Cooley
Joan & Lawrence Friend
Hawks Family Foundation
Heider Family Foundation
Humanities Nebraska
Jetton Charitable Fund
David & Ashley Jarvis
LGBTQIA2S+ Equality Fund
Dan & Tina Lonergan
Lozier Foundation
The Sherwood Foundation
Weitz Family Foundation
Nebraska Arts Council
The Nebraska Cultural Endowment
Omaha Community Foundation
Omaha Public School Foundation
The Poetry Foundation
Bob & Polina Schlott
The Sommer Family
Kate & Roger Weitz
A special thank you to our 2026 Vendor Partner and sponsor of our 2026 National Poetry Month Events
DONATE ONLINE Scane the QR code or visit newriters org/donate