Frequently asked questions

A is taking place in a dimly lit venue with neon signsThe stage is set with a performer holding a microphone, and the audience is seated in front of the stage, watching the performance. The venue has a cozy, club-like atmosphere with colorful lighting.

NOPF is recognized by the mayor’s office on Thursday’s opening night, 2025

  • The New Orleans Poetry Festival takes place in the Bywater-Marigny neighborhood. The main location is the New Orleans Healing Center (2372 St Claude Ave), a community center which also houses Café Istanbul (host to international and headliners night, as well as various readings/panels in the day). Additional venues include AllWays Lounge, St. Roch Tavern, Siberia, Kajun’s, and Saturn Bar (all within walking distance of one another).

  • Nope. NOPF is free and open to the public: no name tags, badges, fees, or so-called “memberships” required.

  • Staying nearby the New Orleans Healing Center would be best for convenience and walkability. Options include:

    Bywater

    • Bywater Suite Hotel (20 min walk)

    • Holy Angels Bywater Hotel and Residencies (19 min walk)

    Marigny

    • Hotel Peter and Paul (6 min walk)

    • The Frenchmen New Orleans (16 min walk)

    • Royal Frenchmen Hotel and Bar (12 min walk)

    • Hotel de la Monnaie (16 min walk)

    • Hampton Inn New Orleans French Quarter Market Area (13 min walk)

    • Lamothe House (16 min walk)

    French Quarter

    • Le Richelieu (18 min walk)

    • Hotel Provincial (21 min walk)

    • Chateau Hotel (22 min walk)

    Central Business District (CBD)

    • The Eliza Jane (39-minute walk)

    Hostels

    • HI New Orleans Hostel (30-minute walk / 12-minute bus ride)

    • India House Hostel (30-minute bus ride)

  • To attend all NOPF events, arrive by Thursday afternoon and depart on Monday after the festival. (If you arrive Friday morning you will miss the opening reading Thursday night and the beginning of our regular programming that morning. If you leave Sunday evening you will miss the close-out pool party and the tail-end of regular programming that day.

  • Book Banter Books partners with NOPF to ensure all participants' books are available for sale at this year’s festival. If your publisher will have your books on-site at a small press fair table, no action is needed. If your publisher can’t be there with your books for sale, please fill out this form [link will come later, after small press fair table sales are over] by March 16, 2027, to allow time for your books to arrive. If you have questions or concerns, please email Rayna Nielsen at BookBanterBooks@gmail.com. She’ll work with you to ensure your books are available at the Book Banter Books table during the festival.

  • Board of Directors

    • Festival Director, Chair

      • Sean F. Munro

    • Communications Director, Vice Chair

      • Henry Goldkamp

    • Secretary

      • Rachel Zavecz

    • Treasurer

      • Bill Lavender

    • Directors

      • Jace Brittain

      • Stella Corso

      • Skye Jackson

      • Rickey Laurentiis

      • Leah Nieboer

      • Lisa Pasold

      • Gabrielle Octavia Rucker

      • Stefene Russell

      • Rodrigo Toscano

      • Bernardo Wade

  • Contact info@neworleanspoetryfestival.org.