JULY 15-18 2026
SIGNATURE EVENTS
WORKSHOPS
QUEERIOSITY IN THE PARK
SEMIFINALS
FINALS
JULY 15
DAY 1
OPENING CEREMONIES
As Youth Speaks celebrates 30 years, the 2026 Brave New Voices Opening Ceremonies welcome young artists from around the world into a week of poetry, performance, community, and fearless expression. Join us as we honor legacy and celebrate the power of youth voice.
ALL POWER TO THE POETS SHOWCASE
All Power to the Poets brings this year’s festival theme to life, celebrating the intersections of poetry, art, and activism while honoring the legacy of the Bay Area’s Black Panther Party. Featuring Dr. Xavier Buck, Executive Director of the Huey P. Newton Foundation, alongside powerful youth artivists speaking truth to power.
JULY 16
DAY 2
POWER LAB & YOUTH WORKSHOPS
Artistic writing and performance workshops facilitated by leading spoken word artists, teaching artists, and educators in the Brave New Voices Network.
QUEERIOSITY IN THE PARK
Queeriosity in the Park is an outdoor celebration of queer creativity and expression featuring poetry, performance, music, conversation, and community. Come as you are and celebrate the power of queer youth voices together.
JULY 17
DAY 3
SEMI FINALS
All teams perform for their chance to move on to the next round. The top teams move on to finals stage.
MC OLYMPICS
MC Olympics is an Olympic-style hip-hop competition featuring top young emcees from across the country. Through multiple rounds of verses, freestyles, and original songs, competitors showcase their pen game, stage presence, originality, and lyrical skill.
JULY 18
DAY 4
BRAVE NEW VOICES FINALS
The Brave New Voices Slam Finals brings together the country’s top youth poetry teams for a powerful night of spoken word, storytelling, and unforgettable performance.
SEE HOW IT WAS LAST YEAR
- 2,000 ATTENDEES
- 300 POETS
- 20+ ORGANIZATIONS
- 10MIL+ IMPRESSIONS
2026 marks the 29th Annual Brave New Voices Festival. This year, we return to the Bay Area, where Brave New Voices began in 1997 from a simple but powerful belief: young people have something to say, and they have the right to say it. This year’s theme, All Power to the Poets, draws inspiration from generations of movement builders who used language as a tool for transformation, resistance, and collective imagination.
As we gather across cities, communities, and generations, we honor the voices that came before us while making space for the voices shaping what comes next. Poetry has always been more than expression. It is a way to connect, to challenge, and to imagine the world we deserve together.
SPONSORS
SAFETY & MENTAL HEALTH
Brave New Voices is committed to creating an environment where every participant feels respected, supported, and safe.
Throughout the festival, dedicated Safety, Mental Health, and Youth Support teams work alongside coaches, chaperones, volunteers, and staff to support participants both on and off stage.
Our approach is grounded in care, consideration, and consent. We encourage participants to look out for themselves and one another, respect personal boundaries, and seek support whenever needed.
Mental health professionals and wellness spaces are available throughout the festival for rest, reflection, emotional support, and decompression.
We are committed to fostering a festival culture where every young person can fully participate, fully express themselves, and feel a sense of belonging.
Questions about safety, wellness, or accessibility? Contact the Brave New Voices team prior to the festival.
FAQs
Who staffs the Mental Health and Decompression Zones?
The Mental Health and Decompression Zones are staffed by Hope Reimagined, a local mental health provider with a lot of experience working with young people. The team includes qualified mental health pre-licensed and licensed therapists. They are joined by graduate students in counseling psychology and social work, who work in partnership with the pre-licensed clinical staff. All staff have been trained in a culturally affirming, neurosomatic integration framework.
Where are the Decompression Zones, and how do I access mental health support?
Decompression Zones are located at or near the venues where festival events are taking place. They are clearly marked with signage. If you're having trouble finding one, any BNV staff member can help direct you.
Is mental health support only available in the Decompression Zone?
No. Mental health support is available throughout the festival. All staff are trained to be emotionally supportive and to check in with young people. Mental health staff may also be present around the venue, checking in with participants who appear to be experiencing emotional distress or high anxiety, and may offer support or co-regulation in spaces like the green room, hallways, or elsewhere on site. While Mental Health staff are always present in the Decompression Zone, they may also be moving throughout the festival to check in with young people. There is a mental health provider who will be saying in the dorms and avaiable to assist with urgent needs.
How do I contact a member of the mental health team?
For non-emergency support during events, go to the Decompression Zone to seek assistance. Between events and time that the decompression zone is not openl you can text or call one of the mental health leads.
If I talk about rape, sexual assault, or violence on stage, what will happen?
We understand that performances may include emotionally charged content drawn from artistic license, experiences that have already been processed, or stories about others rather than something currently happening to the performer. Our priority is making sure every participant feels supported and emotionally cared for. Because of this, our team will check in with artists after performances that are emotionally intense or signal a need for support. If you know your performance will include this kind of content, we encourage you to check in with staff beforehand — this lets you let us know if the material has already been processed or doesn't require intervention, so you can opt out of a post-performance check-in if you'd prefer.
Do I have to be emotionally distressed to access the Decompression Zone?
No. The Decompression Zone can also be a place to reset, rest, and take time for yourself.
Can my friends and I hang out in the Decompression Zone if we're looking for a quiet place to be?
Maybe. The Decompression Zone's primary purpose is to provide a quiet, caring space for reset. A small group sitting together in quiet connection — speaking softly, supporting one another — is welcome. The space isn't meant to function as a lounge, hangout spot, or social area; it's meant to stay a quiet place to reset and a place to get support with emotional distress.
SAFETY & MENTAL HEALTH LEAD
Susan Andrien, CEO and Founder of Hope Reimgagined, is a Phase 2 certified trainer of The Neurosequential Model, a neurodevelopmentally informed approach to clinical problem solving & Certified Forest Therapy Guide. With more than 25 years of experience working with children and families heavily impacted by trauma, Susan is on a mission to better support communities, schools, and families to be relationally rich environments informed by neurophysiology.
