By Natalia Serrano
Left to right: Catherine Strisik, Cyrus Cassells, Bryanna Botham, Logan Phillips and Amber McCrary at the Tucson Poetry Festival at PCC Downtown on April 25, 2026. Photo by Natalia Serrano.
TUCSON — In a city known for its deep-rooted arts culture, the Tucson Poetry Festival (TPF) returned for its 43rd year with a new home at Pima Community College (PCC) and a theme that reflected the landscape itself: resilience.
Set in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, this year’s festival challenged the idea of scarcity that is often associated with desert life, and instead celebrated the region and its artists, defining it by its abundance, endurance and creative vitality.
This year’s festival, which commenced the weekend of April 25-26, received a grant from the Arizona Commission of the Arts, an ongoing sponsorship by the University of Arizona Poetry Center, in addition to a standout participation from PCC, which offered a venue as well as gift cards for participants.
The poetry festival offered all free events to ensure easy accessibility to the community. TPF put on four incredible workshops thanks to the featured poets this year, Cyrus Cassells, Catherine Strisik, Amber McCrary and a Tucson’s poet laureate, Logan Phillips.
“Over decades, the platform we provide allows for the community to learn from professional, national poets for free,” said Bryanna Botham, who has been working for TPF for about four years, two of which as director of the event.
“Tucson is really a landmark for poetry, and I don’t think people realize that,” Botham said, adding that we have so many literary-rich events and communities in Tucson.
Featured poets’ books for sale at the Tucson Poetry Festival held at PCC Downtown on April 25, 2026. Photo by Natalia Serrano.
The workshops were followed by an incredible night at PCC Downtown for a featured poets reading and an afternoon community open mic at Talega Coffee.
This year, several other locally owned businesses accompanied Talega Coffee to show support for this event, including Antigone Books and Beyond Bread.
Botham expressed how artfully spoken words and poetry are very much alive in town.“You can go find your people and be able to trade your poems and be able to share your voice and be heard and appreciated,” she said.
People, she added, really make her work feel special. “I heard so many folks today telling me that they broke through writer’s block, and that the words finally flowed. It’s emotional in such an interesting way; it makes it all worth it.”
Featured Poets at PCC Downtown on April 25, 2026. Photo by Natalia Serrano.
Poetry is for everyone; it’s not exclusive, especially in Tucson.
“We have a community that values diversity and values highlighting artists, letting them have a platform,” Botham said.
There are so many opportunities for Tucsonans to express themselves, particularly for young people and students. Both PCC and the University of Arizona offer many resources for those interested in poetry. Check out PCC’s many journalism and creative writing classes to learn more.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to further your skills, know that the Tucson Poetry Festival is for everyone and the poetry community as a whole will welcome you!
Tucson Poetry Festival signage at PCC Downtown on April 25, 2026. Photo by Natalia Serrano.