Los Angeles is marking National Poetry Month with a mix of readings, workshops, and community events across the city this April. From downtown gatherings to West Hollywood’s annual poetry programming, there are several ways to celebrate the power of verse, hear local voices, and join in creative writing activities throughout the month.
10th Annual LA Get Down Festival
During April, with the support of an arts grant from the City of West Hollywood, Greenway Arts Alliance will present the 10th Annual LA Get Down Festival at the Greenway Court Theatre, 544 N Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles 90036. Past years’ programming has included open-mics, workshops, poetry slams, performances, and more.
More information and links to purchase tickets for the LA Get Down Festival can be found at https://greenwaycourttheatre.org/la-get-down.
A Poetry Reading with Writing Exercises: Poetry as Mapping Kinship and Collective Cultures
On Saturday, April 11, 2026, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Jen Cheng, Anaheim Poet Laureate Camille Hernandez and Glendale Poet Laureate Raffi Wartanian will present A Poetry Reading with Writing Exercises: Poetry as Mapping Kinship and Collective Cultures.
In this free workshop, find new ways of writing your poems! This trio of poets laureate will share their poetry on the extended family and culture as a map for seeking understanding and survival. The first half is a poetry reading and the second half will offer attendees writing exercises.
This is a free event offered in conjunction with the LA County Library. However, an RSVP is requested.
Virtual Event: WeHo Reads: Poets Laureate Lee Herrick and Jen Cheng.
On Wednesday, April 15, 2026 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., as part of the City’s WeHo Reads series, there will be a virtual event: WeHo Reads: Poets Laureate Lee Herrick and Jen Cheng. This National Poetry Month discussion features two poets laureate in a conversation on how language shapes identity, sparks imagination, and can build bridges between cultures and communities.
This event is free to attend, and RSVPs are requested at www.weho.org/wehoreads.
Life Lines: An Autobiographical Poetry Writing Workshop
On Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at the West Hollywood Library Community Meeting Room, located at 625 N. San Vicente Boulevard, Inaugural West Hollywood City Poet Laureate Steven Reigns teaches Life Lines: An Autobiographical Poetry Writing Workshop. Reality is more interesting than fiction. In this writing workshop you will generate new poems based on your life experiences. Please bring a pen/paper or a laptop.
This is a free event offered in conjunction with the LA County Library; please RSVP here.
Poetry Street Pole Banners in WeHo
For the entire month of April 2026, the City of West Hollywood will honor more than 50 living poets by featuring selections of their poetry on street pole banners along Santa Monica Boulevard.
Each year the West Hollywood City Poet Laureate selects two additional poets to honor. This year’s honorees are Kemi Alabi and Kai Cheng Thom.
Poetry Walk
The public is also welcome to visit Poetry Walk, a public art installation, located on the traffic median of Santa Monica Boulevard between Doheny and Almont Drives. This temporary public art installation displays poetry next to pre-existing empty concrete plinths where sculptures are usually displayed.
The poetry excerpts reflect on absence, longing, and that which is unseen or uncelebrated. The Poetry Walk can be experienced as written word or by listening to audio recordings.
