2025 Qualifiers Info
So you wanna compete in the 2025 Winnipeg Poetry Slam CIPS Qualifying season?
If your answer is ‘Maybe? What do I need to know?’ – you’re in the right place.
As part of the Verses Festival of Words that takes place at the end of April, a national poetry slam competition kicks off and crowns one slam poet as national champion. This is known as the Canadian Individual Poetry Slam – two nights of bouts where around 30 poets compete for the national title, enticing spoken word artists from across Canada to make the journey to Vancouver (BC) and throw down. Theres laughter. Theres tears. Theres camaraderie and new friends that now live thousands of kilometers away from you now. And theres a process if you’d like to represent Winnipeg in the 2026 competition.
Here’s everything you need to know.
We have four qualifying bouts in 2025 to determine a Winnipeg Champion for CIPS 2026. These take place in April, June, July, and September, with a grand finale taking place in November. You do not have to compete in all four qualifiers to be invited for the finale in November – but showing up to every qualifier will increase your odds of being selected for the grand finale.
Qualifying bouts will look similar to how our usual Poetry Slam nights go – 12 poets, two rounds, with the top 6 poets from round 1 moving to round 2. The order is randomized both rounds. The top 6 poets will be awarded points based on their rank – NOT scores. All that matters is you get to round 2, and from within round 2, you rank high. In this model, scores do not matter and scores will not accumulate over the season – it is all about your final rank.
First place receives 14 points.
Second place receives 12 points.
Third place receives 10 points.
Fourth place receives 8 points.
Fifth place receives 6 points.
Sixth place receives 3 points.
All other competitors receive 1 point for being there.
For example: say Steve, Kortnee, and Jules are all interested in CIPS 2026. Steve shows up to every show and competes, ranking 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 10th in each respective qualifier. Kortnee only shows up to two shows, ranking 7th and 1st – she would receive no other points for the bouts she did not show up for. Jules shows up to three of the four qualifiers, ranking 1st, 3rd, and 2nd. Steve would be awarded 24 points overall, Kortnee would be awarded 15 points, and Jules would be awarded 32 points. Jules would be invited to compete in the finale in November, followed by Steve, and then Kortnee. Should one of the poets invited for the finale not be interested, or have conflicts that bar them from going to CIPS 2026*, the subsequently ranked poet would be invited in their stead.
(*Prior to entering the November competition, we will ask poets to sign our Champion Agreement. This will be sent out 1 month ahead of the competition. By not signing the agreement, you are not necessarily barred from competing, but you will not be eligible for the cash prize and will not be allowed to declare that you represent Winnipeg.)
So what do I actually have to do in order to prepare myself for the qualifying bouts?
First, prepare at least two 3-minute poems to deliver at the competition. Regular rules apply: no costumes, no props, no musical instruments, and no plagiarism. Violating these will constitute a disqualification. Poems that go over 3 minutes and 10 seconds are subject to a 0.5 point deduction for every 10 seconds over the time limit. Remember, the time starts when you engage the audience!
Second, stay tuned to our Instagram, websites Events page, and around town to see when posters go up. This is when we launch sign up at 3Commons, making 10 of the 12 spots available. We will reserve 2 spots for those without the means of buying a ticket online, but that means you must show up at 6PM when doors open!
Third, show up! Spill your guts! Breathe! Buy a drink! Bleed (verbally) on stage! High five your neighbour! Tip your bartender!
Fourth, pay attention to our website! Total scores and rankings will be posted there so you can stay up to date and anticipate how much you need to prepare in order to do well in the next qualifier. Attend workshops, listen to Button Poetry, study Shane Koyczan, revel in Buddy Wakefield, and get your groove on.
Oh okay, this is easy – I’ll just use the same two poems in every competition!
Ah ah! We can’t let you do that. Our selected Slam Master will be paying close attention to each poem from every poet to ensure work is new and original, every qualifier. The only condition that allows a poem to be repeated is if, in the creative process and sake of revision, more than 50% of the poem has changed over the course of the qualifying season. This means 50% of the literal words must be different, or the intent and message behind the poem drastically changes. That love poem you wrote about her, who has turned into a hater, and has you re-writing the entire piece with a fresh sense of loss and unforgiveness? Allowed. That political poem about a certain figure being a puppet shill for whatever current world order, where you’ve just merely changed the name of said political figure? Not allowed.
Can I use the same poem from the qualifying bouts in the final competition?
No, same rules apply as above.
But this means that I’ll need to prepare, like, 10 poems for the entire season!
Yep – which is approximately as many poems you will need to have prepared if you want to succeed in Vancouver for the national competition. In fact, you will need to prepare approximately six 3-minute pieces, as well as a 1-minute, 2-minute, and 4-minute piece on top of that – and that’s just the bare minimum! Our WPS Qualifiers will strictly stick to the 3-minute pieces. Many strong competitors will prepare 3 pieces per show; this results in flexibility and adaptation in the event that the slam poet before you delivers a piece with a specific tone or subject matter that is either identical to what you’ve prepared, or otherwise puts you at a disadvantage. There is no greater degree of awkward tension than that of a comedic piece being performed after that of deeply serious subject matter – nobody is in a very laugh-ey mood after hearing about someone’s strife!
For any questions, concerns, inquiries, or comments don’t hesitate to contact us @WinnipegPoetrySlam on Instagram, or sending us an email at winnipegpoetryslamboard@gmail.com!
