Sponsored by: Modesto View and Sierra Pacific Warehouse Group
The ILL LIST returns for its 21st year, bringing eight extraordinary spoken-word artists to Modesto for one unforgettable night of original poetry, fierce competition, audience participation, and free expression. This year marks one of the widest-reaching ILL LIST competitions in our history: all eight competing poets are traveling from out of state to take the stage at Modesto’s historic State Theatre.
These nationally recognized performers and slam champions represent some of the most powerful voices in contemporary spoken word, coming together for a high-energy literary showdown where every poem, every point, and every audience reaction matters.
Through three exhilarating rounds of original poetry, eight poets will go head-to-head—matching metaphor for metaphor and line for line—as randomly selected audience judges score each performance with $1,500 in cash prizes going to the first- and second-place finishers.
And this year, the audience gets an even bigger voice!
For the first time, The ILL LIST will introduce a $500 Audience Choice Award, giving everyone in the theatre the opportunity to vote for the poet who moves them most. The Audience Choice Award is completely separate from the judges’ scores and final standings, which means any of the eight competing poets can win it, regardless of whether they advance to the final round.
For more than two decades, The ILL LIST has brought hundreds of people together each year—from students and educators to artists, community leaders, longtime poetry lovers, and people experiencing spoken word for the very first time. Your laughter, applause, reactions, and energy are part of the show.
Eight poets. Three rounds. $2,000 in total prize money. And for the first time, your vote helps decide who takes home $500.
Come experience why The ILL LIST has become the country's preeminent poetry slam as we celebrate the raw power of spoken word right here in Modesto, CA!
This is a Free Speech event.
Doors open at 6:30 p.m. | Show begins at 7:30 p.m.