Start Thurrock partners with Apples & Snakes to bring WORDCUP2026 to Thurrock!

Leading national organisation for performance poetry, Apples & Snakes, is once again organising WORDCUP – a performance poetry project and national showcase celebrating young poets from across England aged 13–16. And Start Thurrock is delighted to be partnering with them to organise activities in the region.

WORDCUP draws inspiration from the idea of a ‘World Cup’ of words, with teams coming together in celebration of wordplay and poetry performed live. Local workshops have been running since April in seven locations around the country (Bristol, London, Thurrock, Southampton, Burnley, Leeds and Coventry), and a big finale event will take place at London’s Southbank Centre on July 10th-12th to coincide with the well-known football tournament.

Participants will travel to London on the Friday for a programme of games, exercises and group workshops, with performances from all the teams taking place on the Sunday. The performances are free and last from 1pm – 3pm. Go up and show your support!

Budding poets ages 13-16 have been in training with an Assistant Poet Coach in a series of creative workshops in Thurrock facilitated by our friends at Chosen Community. This has enabled them to join this exciting national project and develop writing and performance skills that will set them up perfectly for the festival weekend.

A team of 8 young people and staff support will travel to London in July, with their Poet Coach and Assistant Poet Coach also attending for the weekend to support the team. The event will also feature high-profile poets as celebrators to give feedback to the young people (including international poets from the US, Canada and Mexico, where the 2026 football World Cup is taking place). Confirmed to attend are: John Bernard, Kat Francois, Khadija Ibrahim, Zohab Zee Kahn, Muneera Pilgrim, Reece Williams, Antosh Wojcik, Nasima Bee, Eileen Gbagbo, Rayna Mulligan, Hannah Newton, Yvette Santana, Kavien Sribala and Akeim Toussaint.

Keep an eye on our social pages check out the Apples & Snakes web page for more information.