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 Siberia, 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)

Affordable & Safe Hostels

HI New Orleans Hostel, 1028 Canal St, New Orleans, LA 70112 (30-minute walk or a 12-minute bus ride)
India House Hostel,  124 S Lopez St, New Orleans, LA 70119 (30-minute bus ride)

Do I need to register or pay a fee if I just want to attend?

Nope. The New Orleans Poetry Festival is free and open to the public - no name-tags, badges, fees, or memberships required. 

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 my press isn't at the Small Press Fair, how can I sell my books?

Blue Cypress Books is partnering 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 won’t have your books for sale, email Rayna Nielsen at Rayna@BlueCypressBooks.com by March 30 to allow time for your books to arrive. She’ll work with you to ensure your books are available at the Blue Cypress Books table during 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 – 5:00 PM). Venue: Siberia, 2227 St Claude 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: Siberia, 2227 St Claude 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: Siberia, 2227 St Claude 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.