Festival für junge Sprachkunst und Poetry-Slam | 20. Feb. – 22. Feb. 2026
Language is more than just letters on paper. It can sound, groove, surprise, and move you—and that's exactly what Wortsport 26 shows you.
Our festival in Berlin brings together all forms of stage language art: wordplay, song lyrics, poetry and storytelling, choral speaking, human beatboxing, multilingualism, a cappella, poetry and dance, freestyle rap, sign language, and, of course, poetry slam.
Wortsport 26 aims to break down barriers: here, rappers meet poets, beatboxing meets storytelling, and professionals and up-and-coming talents engage in conversation. Workshops offer you the opportunity to learn directly from experienced artists—and to try your hand at it yourself. Particularly exciting: Fifteen young language artists from all over Germany will enrich the festival—all born after 2000—bringing their own perspectives, providing fresh impetus, and opening up spaces where you can find yourself.
With its international character and multilingualism, Berlin is the perfect place for this exchange. And you are invited to be part of it—as part of the audience, in the workshops, or perhaps even on stage yourself. The lineup on stage and in the workshops is impressive: Yasmo (rap), King EXXX (beatbox), Kirsten Fuchs (storytelling), Timo Brunke (stage poetry), Jan Böttcher (songwriting), Xxxx Xxxx (secret star guest), Florian Bilbao (dance/performance), Lama Ali & Marcel Hermsdorf (theater), Eva Matz (poetry slam), Rolf S. Wolkenstein (documentary film, poetry clip), and the Very Important Poets (VIPs) of the new generation. Among others, Nya Ditt – the reigning German-speaking U20 poetry slam champion.
Wortsport 26 is the festival for you if you're looking for inspiration, new encounters, and all the energy of spoken language. Be there!
Festival information at wortsport-festival.de
The program
February 20 // 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Wortsport Festival 1
Poetry slam, music, and songwriting with a secret star guest, Schneekönig, Eva Matz, Jan Böttcher, and others.
GRIPS Podewil
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Friday, February 20, 2026 // 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Wortsport Festival 2
Spoken word and storytelling with Bas Böttcher, Lucia Lucia, Timo Brunke, and others.
GRIPS Podewil
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Saturday, February 21, 2026 // 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Wortsport Festival 3
U20 Poetry Slam, the word sport of the new generation with Nya Ditt, the reigning German-speaking champion in the U20 Poetry Slam 2025, with Arnold Pretzlaw, the reigning Berlin champion, with Oivia Kaufmann, Andreas Kofler, Mira Hampe, and others.
GRIPS Podewil
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Saturday, February 21, 2026 // 8:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.
Wortsport Festival 4
U20 poetry, rap, beatbox & dance with Yasmo (rap), Florian Bilbao (dance), Eyüp Krüger (beatbox), and others.
GRIPS Podewil
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Sunday, February 22, 2026 // 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Wortsport Festival 5
Poetry slam battle: Gen Z vs. Boomers Clash of the generations
with Kirsten Fuchs, Arnold Pretzlaw, Wolf Hogekamp, Bas Böttcher, and others.
GRIPS Podewil
