Poetry Happens Here
Santa Barbara is a thriving creative community which includes poets and poetry lovers of all kinds. Santa Barbara even has its own poetry press, Gunpowder Press, which includes local poets in its Shoreline Voices series.
Upcoming & Recent Poetry Events
- An Evening with Martín Espada, UCSB Campbell Hall, April 29An evening with National Book Award-winning poet Martín Espada, presented by UCSB Arts & Lectures, Wed., April 29, 7:30 pm
- Community Poetry Readings with UCSB Reads & Goleta Valley Library, April 22, UCSB LibraryKicking off with a reading by current Santa Barbara Poet Laureate George Yatchisin and UCSB Professor Emerita Shirley Geok-Lin Lim this event is part of UCSB Reads 2026. Other participants will also read their selected poems, often by other writers.
- Poetry in the Parks at the Presidio Chapel, April 17An evening of music and poetry in Santa Barbara’s only State Park, the Presidio; 5:30 p.m.
- 12th Annual “Spirits in the Air: Potent Potable Poetry,” April 15, The Good LionTen invited poets will read their work, and the work of others, about libations of all sorts. Wed., April 15, The Good Lion.
- Lowstate Writing Salon, Tuesday, April 14Writing community w/ big focus on play & sparking something weird. We’re about word games & praise kinks. Tues., April 14, 7pm, at Blue Owl
- Santa Barbara Poetry Series Reading with David Oliveira & Laure-Anne Bosselaar, SBPL, March 27A reading by David Oliveira, SB’s millennium Poet Laureate (1999-2000), and Laure-Anne Bosselaar, SB’s eighth Poet Laureate (2019-2021), March 27, 5:30 pm.
- March Let’s Chat About Poetry with Laure-Anne Bosselaar, March 15Join local poetry professor and esteemed author, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, for an informal conversation about poetry. Sun., March 15, 4-5 pm, domecil
- The Poetry Club, Goleta Valley Library, March 15Read a favorite poem or simply enjoy the voices of others, March 15, 2 pm, Goleta Community Center.