Word Up! Showcase
Word Up!, founded in 2013, is a thriving spoken word event that takes place every month at the Old Auction House in Tunbridge Wells.
Attracting over 90 attendees and featuring 30 local poets each month it has become a vital platform for emerging talent, with many poets going on to win awards and publish books.
Word Up’s mission is to ensure all voices are heard, creating a welcoming, diverse space for participants aged 6 to 86.
Word Up also positively impacts mental health and fosters community. Beyond events, they partner with schools to nurture creativity and confidence, and are expanding through collaborations and commercial opportunities to support our work.
Word Up poets will be opening all of our events at this year’s Festival – but this is an opportunity for you to see and hear some of our gifted emerging poets in one place – on one stage. There will also be an opportunity for you to buy the first Word Up Poetry anthology – created specially for the 2026 Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival.
The evening will be hosted by Dwella (Dan Culmer).
Attracting over 90 attendees and featuring 30 local poets each month it has become a vital platform for emerging talent, with many poets going on to win awards and publish books.
Word Up’s mission is to ensure all voices are heard, creating a welcoming, diverse space for participants aged 6 to 86.
Word Up also positively impacts mental health and fosters community. Beyond events, they partner with schools to nurture creativity and confidence, and are expanding through collaborations and commercial opportunities to support our work.
Word Up poets will be opening all of our events at this year’s Festival – but this is an opportunity for you to see and hear some of our gifted emerging poets in one place – on one stage. There will also be an opportunity for you to buy the first Word Up Poetry anthology – created specially for the 2026 Tunbridge Wells Literary Festival.
The evening will be hosted by Dwella (Dan Culmer).
