poetada

Poetada is a term used in Iberian and Latin American Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities to denote a public poetry performance, often featuring improvisation. The word combines poet (poeta) with a suffix that forms event-nouns, suggesting an occasion for poetic expression. The practice may be solitary or collective and is commonly held at literary gatherings, festivals, cafes, or street venues.

In traditional poetadas, participants recite original verses in a single performance or in response to prompts supplied by organizers or the audience. Some versions include a competitive element, with judges or audience voting to determine winners based on criteria such as originality, rhythm, imagery, and emotional impact. Sound and musicality—meter, cadence, rhyme—are valued but vary by regional style.

Historically, poetada draws on oral storytelling and folk-performance traditions, emphasizing immediacy and communal participation. It shares affinities with modern poetry slams and declamatory recitations but remains a distinct format in regional contexts. In contemporary settings, poetadas appear at cultural festivals, educational programs, and community arts projects, providing a platform for poets to test material, engage listeners, and foster local literary culture.

Etymology is not uniform across all regions, but the term is widely understood to refer to a gathering centered on poetic performance, especially improvisation and live delivery.