Look, I’m gonna level with you right from the start. The spoken word scene right now is absolutely electric, and if you’re not paying attention to these poets and spoken word artists to watch, you’re missing out on some of the most raw, authentic voices of our generation.
Since our lives are dominated by the social media, the poetry world has entirely changed. This is no longer dusty literary tomes of academic conferences: nowadays, poets and spoken word artists are gaining enormous followings in Tik Tok, taking up big prizes and can actually make and earn real money with their art. It is nuts, to be honest.
The Digital Revolution is Real
Spoken word has found its perfect home on social media platforms, especially TikTok and Instagram. TikTok’s #poetrytok community exploded in 2023, creating viral trends and giving rise to new poets who might have otherwise struggled to find an audience. The platform’s ability to create immediate emotional connections has been a game-changer for poets and spoken word artists to watch.
The scenario on the ground now is nothing compared to that of five years back. Another example is an American poet Whitney Hanson who reads her verses in front of the camera with soft music in the background. She has gained over 78 million likes to her TikTok videos. No, that is not a typo, 78 million likes on poetry. Such an attempt to explain it to your English teacher in high school.
Competition Scene is Heating Up
The rigid market of spoken word has gone above board. THE ARTISTS FORUM is thrilled to update the line-up of winners of this year co SPOKEN WORD COMPETITION with the 7 works best underlining our 2024 Competition Theme- TECHNO-FEUDALISM. Such contests are no longer local although; they now have international shows where artists of various countries can display themselves.
The Spoken word competition, one of the programs of our Juried Arts Festival, is the ARTISTS FORUM SPOKEN WORD COMPETITION, and their theme in 2025 is ACCESS, which could not be timelier, and that is because of how digital spaces have democratized poetry.
Rising Stars You Need to Know
The emerging spoken word scene is producing some seriously talented artists who deserve your attention. As there are still names dominating, there is an entire new generation coming after them.
The biggest collective of Indian poets all over the country on the net is Delhi Poetry Slam and it is finding amazing talent in its competitions. The first prize candidate is given a time span of six to eight months to finish his or her poetry manuscript, which is later on edited by the most famed editors after which it is published by Delhi Poetry Slam. That is true career level assistance.
The world arena is especially dynamic. All these works are developed by individual artistes who have their birthplace in 3 countries, namely: Canada, Portugal, and the United States, demonstrating the fact that spoken word is indeed becoming an international art.
TikTok is Changing Everything
If you’re not on TikTok yet, you’re missing where the real action is happening. TikTok has changed the poetry game—and made our favorite genre more popular than ever. The platform has created entirely new formats and trends that poets and spoken word artists are using to reach massive audiences.
but in poetry we say… in real life we say… the new format people are currently doing in masses to express the beauty and power of figurative language by filling in the blank with their well-liked lines of poetry. It is genius in the fact that it gives people easy access to the poetry yet still demonstrating artistry.
There is also this thing of handwritten poetry going on. This trend of handwritten poetry, where authors tell you about drafts in their notebooks and can read you poetry is in the process of transferring a sense of the real live paper and ink into social media. It has the ring of authenticity that can never be done with meticulously crafted material.
The Business Side is Getting Serious
Here’s what’s really exciting—spoken word artists are actually making money now. Expected Growth: The current growth of poetry books will be continued with a growth of 8-10 years as more poets have resorted to self-publishing and online devices. The gatekeepers are being put to the test.
The TikTok fame of Whitney Hanson was noticed by one of the landmarks of publishing, Penguin Random House. The success of social media is already being translated to book contracts and actual careers.
Self-publishing contributed to about 40 percent of all new poetry books which showed the trend of easier ways of publishing. Artists no longer have to wait to be discovered, they can establish their audiences, and make their opportunities.
What Makes 2025 Different
The modern poetry talent emerging right now has a completely different relationship with their audience than previous generations. In 2025, the poet is more than a poetic creator. They are a meaning maker. They are exploring social issues, mental health, identity, and all the mess, all the complicated stuff that makes people human in their platforms.
This is all live on some level, because 2023 was the largest year yet in the UK to ever sell poetry books, which is significant evidence that none of this online action is a mirage, and that it is actually coming through into the cross-selling of books and industry society.
The Global Perspective
The fact that scene has gone international is one thing that is quite fascinating. The World Poetry Slam Organization (WPSO) came into being in September 2022 during the inaugural World Poetry Slam Championship (WPSC) in Brussels as international non-profit organization (ivzw/aisbl). This is no longer an American or rather a global phenomenon.
Poetry trends are emerging from everywhere. Marion Fritsch is a French writer, who started to share short texts on Instagram in 2023, and did not even consider her work to be poetry. Until everyone, that is, told her so. The number of her followers has now reached nearly a half-million, and she has managed to find her following because authentic voices will have their audiences no matter how they are defined.
Looking Forward
The future of spoken word is tremendously promising. Poetry&Words are the only stage exclusively dedicated to poetry at Glastonbury Festival and they always provide a huge number of poetic talent – spoken word and performance poets, rappers and even the occasional word loving musician. Once poetry is being given whole stages even at the major festivals, then you know it has become mainstream.
It is easy to find access to such platforms as Instagram or Tik Tok, so we learn about new poetry stars. The democratization of poetry implies that not only the most qualified young poets come about with the classical academic background, they are turning out of everywhere, with their own views of the world and experience to express.
Where to Find the Action
If you want to stay connected with the slam poets to follow, here’s where the real community is happening. On Saturday, June 7 th, 2025, at The Legendary SOBs (21+), we are presenting the Fourth annual poetry me, please Poetry Slam. It is in these live events wherein the new breed of talents are found.
Spoken word events are happening constantly, both online and offline. Verselandia! is the youth poetry slam championship that is hosted annually by Literary Arts and it is important that events such as this are essential in finding new talent.
The idea of spoken word is beautiful at the moment since it has become more accessible than ever but still keeps the capability to move, challenge, and inspire. It is never been easier to be a poetry fan: finding performers on Tiktok, visiting the local slams, or entering the worldwide competition world, there is so much to love at every nook.
The poets and spoken word artists to watch are out there right now, building their audiences one video, one performance, one authentic moment at a time. And honestly? That’s exactly how it should be.
