Doors open at 6 pm
Broadcast live on POETV
Poets will be paired up via random draw and compete head-to-head. This will be a double knockout competition. The poets competing will be the 12 poets who lost in the First Preliminary Night. The top 6 poets who survive the first round, will compete against the 6 poets who were knocked out in the final round of the First Preliminary Night. This will determine the top 6 poets. Both rounds will be 3 minutes long.
The Canadian Individual Poetry Slam (CIPS) will take place between April 26- 28 2023. CIPS is a nationally recognized poetry slam that brings together 24 poets from across the country to celebrate and battle through spoken word as part of the Verses Festival of Words. This year, the competition will take place in a hybrid format, with live in person shows in Vancouver, BC, as well as opportunities for poets to compete virtually.
Poets representing spoken word series and regions across what is colonially known as “Canada” will compete in a head-to-head tournament, presenting poems that are 1-4 minutes in length.
Winners of each head-to-head bout will be determined by a live vote chosen by 5 randomly appointed judges selected from the audience. We have chosen the head to head format this year, to introduce a new element of relationality, theatrics, and fun. We will go into more details around the logistics of this below. This judging system aligns with our vision of the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam Champion being chosen by fellow community members – without hierarchy, without prioritizing expertise, cultivating a way of accessing poetry for all.