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The Gala | Perth Poetry Festival 2026
Perth Poetry Festival 2026 · Ear to the Ground
The Gala is the beating heart of Perth Poetry Festival 2026. Poets, performers, audiences and ideas meet at Perth Town Hall for a flagship night of live readings, collaboration, music and poetic celebration.
Doors open 6:00 pm. Please arrive early for the program start at 6:30 pm.
Welcome, keynote & opening
- Welcome to Country: Wadjak-Balardong Noongar Elder Emeritus Professor Simon Forrest and Wadjak-Balardong Noongar language teacher Dylan Collard
- Festival keynote: 2026 Festival Patron Cyndy Moody
- Opening performance: Miranda Aitken
National guests
- Emilie Collyer
- Alex Creece
- Oormila Prahlad
- Ender Başkan
Western Australian regional poets
- Reneé Pettitt-Schipp
- Giles Watson
Perth poets
- Jack Collard
- Coral Carter
- Luisa Mitchell
- Patrick McCarthy
- Yirga Gelaw Woldeyes
Plus a special featurette by the Shadow Walk Poet Troupe.
Hosted by Lakshmi Kanchi & Manveen Kohli.
Tickets
- General Admission: $30 + $1.25 Humanitix fee
- WA Poets Members: $25 + $1.13 fee
- Festival Weekend Upgrade: $50 + $1.75 fee
- WA Poets Member Festival Weekend Upgrade: $40 + $1.50 fee
The weekend upgrade adds Grains of Sand, Saturday Night Poets, Poetry in the Age of AI and the Festival Finale to your Gala booking.
Food & drink
Important update: Due to a change in alcohol licensing requirements, Perth Town Hall will now operate a licensed bar throughout the evening, with alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks available for purchase.
BYO alcohol is no longer permitted.
A grazing table and light nibbles are included with your ticket. Complimentary tea and coffee will also be available.
Dress code: come as you are, or come festival fabulous.
Books
Festival books will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of official Festival bookseller Rabble Books & Games.
Accessibility
Perth Town Hall is wheelchair accessible. Please contact the organiser if you have particular access requirements.
Refunds
Refunds are available up to 7 days before the event.
Acknowledgement of Country
WA Poets Inc acknowledges the Whadjuk people of the Noongar nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which these Festival events take place, and pays respect to Elders past and present and to continuing culture, community and connection to Country.