Mulhouse Poets Festival

Urban Poetry at the Heart of Bourtzwiller

The Mulhouse Poets Festival is an event rooted in the Bourtzwiller district, led by the Oz'Arts Citoyens association in close partnership with the Centre Socioculturel Pax. Born from the desire to offer an artistic expression space accessible to all, this festival affirms that urban writing — rap, slam, spoken word — are forms of poetry in their own right, rooted in the territories and the life of the neighborhoods. Each edition takes place in March, in resonance with the Printemps des Poètes, a national highlight for poetry.

Three Evenings, Three Poetic Universes

The festival unfolds over three consecutive evenings, each led by a local artist and a unique theme. The first evening, titled "Local Stage and Youth", highlights a young generation Mulhouse artist in the realm of stage poetry and urban speech. The second evening explores the dialogue between poetry and music, with a poetic concert blending texts and original compositions. The third evening, titled "Shared Word", offers a unifying collective concert that brings together artists and the public in a moment of artistic communion.

A Tribute to the Voices of the Territory

Each edition of the Poets Festival pays tribute to an iconic figure from the Mulhouse scene. In 2026, the festival celebrates the memory of Say-C, a major artist in Mulhouse rap, thus affirming the lineage between classical poetry and contemporary urban expressions. This tribute illustrates the festival's philosophy: recognizing the poetic richness of urban cultures and their roots in the history and identity of Mulhouse's working-class neighborhoods.

A Local Cultural Project

The choice to host the festival at the CSC Pax, in the heart of Bourtzwiller, is deliberate. The Oz'Arts Citoyens association carries out a project specifically in a priority neighborhood, in order to offer accessible performances, promote local talents, and strengthen cultural proximity. The festival contributes to the cultural and social dynamics of the neighborhood by creating bridges between generations, artistic styles, and residents. The programmed artists, predominantly from the Mulhouse scene, embody this commitment to showcasing local creativity.

Between Poetic Tradition and Urban Modernity

The Mulhouse Poets Festival weaves a subtle link between the poetic tradition inherited from the Printemps des Poètes and contemporary forms of oral expression. Rap, slam, and spoken word coexist with stage poetry and literary concerts, in a program that rejects genre boundaries. This artistic openness makes the festival a unique place in Alsace, where poetic expression is reinvented with each edition, driven by the energy and creativity of Mulhouse artists.