Where is the festival located? Where should I stay?

The New Orleans Poetry Festival (NOPF) is in the Marigny/Bywater neighborhood. The primary venue is the New Orleans Healing Center, which includes Café Istanbul. Additional venues include St. Roch Tavern, located across the street, and Saturn Bar, half a mile down St. Claude Avenue.

We recommend you stay close to the New Orleans Healing Center in the Marigny/Bywater neighborhood for convenience and walkability. Here are some nearby options with walking times to the Healing Center:

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 by Kasa (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 (Unbound Collection by Hyatt) (39-minute walk)

When should I plan to arrive and depart?

 To attend all NOPF events, arrive by Thursday afternoon and depart on Monday after the festival.

If I have an accepted proposal, where/when will that take place?

 Accepted event proposals take place on Saturday and Sunday of the festival. See the full programming overview below:

Thursday, April 10th 2025:

  • Locals Night Opening Gala (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM): A showcase of performances by local New Orleans poets. Venue: Saturn Bar, 3067 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117.

Friday, April 11th 2025:

  • Open Mic Session (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM). Venue: St. Roch Tavern, 1200 St Roch Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117.
  • International Night (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM). Venue: Café Istanbul, 2372 St Claude Ave Room 252, New Orleans, LA 70117.

Saturday, April 12th 2025:

  • Readings, Roundtables, & Workshops (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM). These events occur throughout several rooms in the New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117.
  • Small Press Fair (9:00 AM – 5:00 PM): Discover and purchase works from independent publishers in the Grand Hall of the New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117.
  • Afternoon Readings (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM). Venue: St. Roch Tavern, 1200 St Roch Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117.
  • Main Event (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM). Venue: Café Istanbul, 2372 St Claude Ave Room 252, New Orleans, LA 70117.

Sunday, April 13th 2025:

  • Readings, Roundtables, & Workshops (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM): These events occur throughout several rooms in the New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117.
  • Small Press Fair (9:00 AM – 4:00 PM): Discover and purchase works from independent publishers in the Grand Hall of the New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117.
  • Afternoon Readings (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM). Venue: St. Roch Tavern, 1200 St Roch Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117.
  • Closing Pool Party (4:00 PM – 11:00 PM): A board member, Rodrigo Toscano, hosts the closing pool party at his home in Mid-City, which is catered and offers a chill way to continue dialogues and decompress. Venue: During the festival, please check your email for an invitation.