12/31, (Not this week) The Crescent Moon Writers' Night: Open Mic at Crescent Moon Coffee (in The Apothecary, 140 N 8th St, Lincoln). See more at crescentmooncoffee.com. (every Wednesday)

1/1/26?, Th-- 7pm, Verse & Vibes open mic night at Indigo Cottage Crafts (2063 Creekside Dr, Papillion). This event is sponsored by the Nebraska Poetry Society, doors open at 6:30, free and open to all. (1st Thursday)
Next events: 2/5, 3/5, etc.

1/2/26, F-- Noon, First Friday Book Talk and Reading through Larksong Writers Place but on Zoom. Register at: larksongwritersplace.org. Free, registration required.
1/2, TBA

1/2/26, F-- 6:30-10pm, Poetry Night at the Reading Room (1505 Farnam St, Omaha). Share your own work or read a favorite poem aloud, this event is for the seasoned writer, those who love the power of spoken word, anyone who'd like to celebrate poetry. Registration required: contact readingroomomaha@gmail.com or call/text at 563-940-1308. (1st Friday)
Next events: 2/6, 3/6, etc.

1/6/26: The Nebraska Poetry Society presents the Nebraska Poets Reading Series at 6:30pm on the first Tuesday of the month. See details at: nepoetrysociety.org/readings. Events are online, free and open to the public:
1/6, Gene Fendt
3/3, Kim Sosin
4/7, Kelly Madigan

1/7/26, W-- 7-9pm, The Crescent Moon Writers' Night: Open Mic at Crescent Moon Coffee (in The Apothecary, 140 N 8th St, Lincoln). See more at crescentmooncoffee.com. Signup starts at 6:30pm, hosted by Jeff Martinson. (every Wednesday)
--After the event on the 1st Monday of each month, you're invited to join Write After, a writing group that meets around the conclusion of this event.

1/8, Th-- 7-9pm, The Lincoln Poetry Slam at Larksong Writers Place (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Thursday)
Next events: 2/12, 3/12, etc.

1/9, F-- 6-8pm, Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic at St Mark's on the Campus (1309 R St, Lincoln). Each event has a featured reader from 6-7:30pm and open mic in any remaining time up to 8pm. Doors open at 5:30pm. See full details at:sites.google.com/view/smoc-lion. (2nd Friday)
1/9, Greg Kosmicki
2/13, Alina Nguyên and Caroliena Cabada
3/13, Rasaq Malik

1/10, Sa-- 7-9pm, The Omaha Poetry Slam at The Local Art Plug (1722 St Mary's Ave, Omaha). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Saturday)
Next events: 1/10, 2/14, 3/14, etc.

1/12, M-- 6-8pm, Family Dinner Reading Series and Open Mic at the Joslyn Castle Carriage House (3902 Davenport St, Omaha). Reading at 6pm, open mic at 7pm. This month features TBA. (2nd Monday)
Next events: 2/9, 3/9, etc.

1/14, W-- 7-9pm, The Crescent Moon Writers' Night: Open Mic at Crescent Moon Coffee (in The Apothecary, 140 N 8th St, Lincoln). See more at crescentmooncoffee.com. Signup starts at 6:30pm, hosted by Jeff Martinson. (every Wednesday)

1/15, Th-- 5-7pm, Third Thursday Artist Talk at the KHN Center for the Arts (801 Third Corso, Nebraska City). Meet KHN resident artists and get a glimpse of their creative work. We begin in the KHN Gallery dining room with light refreshments followed by presentations. Resident artists present for eight minutes each with additional time for questions. See details at: khncenterforthearts.org/about/events/january-third-thursday-1.

1/15, Th-- 6:30-7:30pm, Writers in Conversation, Third Thursdays @ Larksong at Larksong Writers Place (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln). Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Social Time 6-6:30. Free. (3rd Thursday)
1/15 features Holly Pelesky and Syble Hefferman
Next events: 1/15, 2/19, 3/19, etc.

1/15 Th-- 7-9pm, Vocal Fry, a monthly spoken word open mic at UNO's Criss Library (6401 S University Dr Rd N, Omaha, first floor by the Starbucks). Vocal Fry is presented in collaboration with The Nebraska Poetry Society. Doors open at 6:30 with performances starting at 7. No registration is required. (3rd Thursday)
Next events: 2/19, 3/19, etc.

1/16, F-- 7pm, A spoken word featured reading and open mic at The Ellery (1247 S 11th St, Lincoln). Hosted by Esman Rodas Calderon. (Third Friday, new theme each month)
After the event, you're invited to join Write After, a writing group that meets around the conclusion of this event (around 8:30 or 9).
Next events: 2/20, 3/20, 4/17, etc.

1/17, Sa-- 10:30-11:30am, Poetry Writing Workshops with resident poetry instructor Julie S. Paschold at Lauritzen Gardens (100 Bancroft St, Omaha):
1/17/26, The Ekphrastic Poem: Information and registration at: lauritzen.ticketapp.org/portal/product/51/event/1670978d-87c5-49bb-8103-5d3a96ec27d1

1/19, M-- 5:30pm, the 8th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. "Living the Dream" original Social Justice Spoken Word, Music, Dance and Art Competition at the Holland Performing Arts Center (1200 Douglas St, Omaha). Sponsored by the City of Omaha Human Rights and Relations Department. There will be cash prizes and trophies awarded to winners from the Omaha metro area in grades 7-12. See details at: humanrights.cityofomaha.org/living-the-dream-high-school-competition.

1/21, W-- 7-9pm, The Crescent Moon Writers' Night: Open Mic at Crescent Moon Coffee (in The Apothecary, 140 N 8th St, Lincoln). See more at crescentmooncoffee.com. Signup starts at 6:30pm, hosted by Jeff Martinson. (every Wednesday)

1/28, W-- 7-9pm, The Crescent Moon Writers' Night: Open Mic at Crescent Moon Coffee (in The Apothecary, 140 N 8th St, Lincoln). See more at crescentmooncoffee.com. Signup starts at 6:30pm, hosted by Jeff Martinson. (every Wednesday)

1/29, Th-- 7-10pm, NEWISH Poetry Slam with Live Music at NOMA (2510 N 24th St, Omaha). Presented by the Nebraska Writers Collective and hosted by Zedeka Poindexter, see more at the Facebook Event page. Registration is $10, Grand prize is $100 (every last Thursday).
Next events: 2/26, 3/26, etc.

2/4, W-- 7-9pm, The Crescent Moon Writers' Night: Open Mic at Crescent Moon Coffee (in The Apothecary, 140 N 8th St, Lincoln). See more at crescentmooncoffee.com. Signup starts at 6:30pm, hosted by Jeff Martinson. (every Wednesday)
--After the event on the 1st Monday of each month, you're invited to join Write After, a writing group that meets around the conclusion of this event.

2/5, Th-- 7pm, Verse & Vibes open mic night at Indigo Cottage Crafts (2063 Creekside Dr, Papillion). This event is sponsored by the Nebraska Poetry Society, doors open at 6:30, free and open to all. (1st Thursday)
Next events: 3/5, 4/2, 5/7, etc.

2/6, F-- Noon, First Friday Book Talk and Reading through Larksong Writers Place but on Zoom. Register at: larksongwritersplace.org. Free, registration required.
2/6, TBA

2/6, F-- 6:30-10pm, Poetry Night at the Reading Room (1505 Farnam St, Omaha). Share your own work or read a favorite poem aloud, this event is for the seasoned writer, those who love the power of spoken word, anyone who'd like to celebrate poetry. Registration required: contact readingroomomaha@gmail.com or call/text at 563-940-1308. (1st Friday)
Next events: 3/6, 4/3, 5/1, etc.

2/9, M-- 6-8pm, Family Dinner Reading Series and Open Mic at the Joslyn Castle Carriage House (3902 Davenport St, Omaha). Reading at 6pm, open mic at 7pm. This month features TBA. (2nd Monday)
Next events: 3/9, 4/13, 5/11, etc.

2/11, W-- 7-9pm, The Crescent Moon Writers' Night: Open Mic at Crescent Moon Coffee (in The Apothecary, 140 N 8th St, Lincoln). See more at crescentmooncoffee.com. Signup starts at 6:30pm, hosted by Jeff Martinson. (every Wednesday)
--After the event on the 1st Monday of each month, you're invited to join Write After, a writing group that meets around the conclusion of this event.

2/12, Th-- 7-9pm, The Lincoln Poetry Slam at Larksong Writers Place (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Thursday)
Next events: 3/12, 4/9, 5/14, etc.

2/13, F-- 6-8pm, Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic at St Mark's on the Campus (1309 R St, Lincoln). Each event has a featured reader from 6-7:30pm and open mic in any remaining time up to 8pm. Doors open at 5:30pm. See full details at:sites.google.com/view/smoc-lion. (2nd Friday)
2/13, Alina Nguyên and Caroliena Cabada
3/13, Rasaq Malik
4/10, Heidi Hermanson and Cat Dixon

2/14, Sa-- 7-9pm, The Omaha Poetry Slam at The Local Art Plug (1722 St Mary's Ave, Omaha). 6:30 doors, 7:00 show. See details at the Facebook Event Page. Sponsored by the Nebraska Writers Collective. (2nd Saturday)
Next events: 3/14, 4/11, 5/9, etc.

2/18, W-- 7-9pm, The Crescent Moon Writers' Night: Open Mic at Crescent Moon Coffee (in The Apothecary, 140 N 8th St, Lincoln). See more at crescentmooncoffee.com. Signup starts at 6:30pm, hosted by Jeff Martinson. (every Wednesday)

2/19, Th-- 6:30-7:30pm, Writers in Conversation, Third Thursdays @ Larksong at Larksong Writers Place (1600 N Cotner Blvd, Lincoln). Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Social Time 6-6:30. Free. (3rd Thursday)
Next events: 3/19, 4/16, 5/21, etc.

2/19 Th-- 7-9pm, Vocal Fry, a monthly spoken word open mic at UNO's Criss Library (6401 S University Dr Rd N, Omaha, first floor by the Starbucks). Vocal Fry is presented in collaboration with The Nebraska Poetry Society. Doors open at 6:30 with performances starting at 7. No registration is required. (3rd Thursday)
Next events: 3/19, 4/16, 5/21, etc.

2/20, F-- 7pm, A spoken word featured reading and open mic at The Ellery (1247 S 11th St, Lincoln). Hosted by Esman Rodas Calderon. (Third Friday, new theme each month)
After the event, you're invited to join Write After, a writing group that meets around the conclusion of this event (around 8:30 or 9).
Next events: 3/20, 4/17, 5/15, etc.

2/25, W-- 7-9pm, The Crescent Moon Writers' Night: Open Mic at Crescent Moon Coffee (in The Apothecary, 140 N 8th St, Lincoln). See more at crescentmooncoffee.com. Signup starts at 6:30pm, hosted by Jeff Martinson. (every Wednesday)

2/26, Th-- 7-10pm, NEWISH Poetry Slam with Live Music at NOMA (2510 N 24th St, Omaha). Presented by the Nebraska Writers Collective and hosted by Zedeka Poindexter, see more at the Facebook Event page. Registration is $10, Grand prize is $100 (every last Thursday).
Next events: 3/26, 4/30, 5/28, etc.

3/3: The Nebraska Poetry Society presents the Nebraska Poets Reading Series at 6:30pm on the first Tuesday of the month. See details at: nepoetrysociety.org/readings. Events are online, free and open to the public:
3/3, Kim Sosin
4/7, Kelly Madigan
5/5, Chuck Peek

3/28, Sa-- 10am: The Nebraska Poetry Society presents online writing workshops on different topics, led by some wonderful poets on a Saturday each month. $35 or free to members. For more information and to register, go to: nepoetrysociety.org/workshops:
3/28: Alison Lubar, The Poets' "Little Song": 800 Years of Sonnets from Medieval Sicily to the American Midwest
5/30: Allison Adele Hedge Coke, Musicality and the Long Poem