This event features three Birmingham Poets Laureate, appearing together for the first time. Each poet will present a selection of their poetry and engage in discussion with participants about their work. For more than 20 years Birmingham has led the way in contemporary poetry, gaining a national and international reputation. The Poet Laureate acts as a poetry ambassador, raising the profile of poetry across Birmingham, writing poetry for special occasions, leading workshops, and inspiring others to read and write poetry.

Jasmine Gardosi is Birmingham Poet Laureate 2022-2024, and an Honorary Doctor of Letters. They are a multiple slam champion, beatboxer, winner of the Out-Spoken Prize for Poetry and winner of the Saboteur Award for Best Spoken Word Performer 2023. Their work exploring beatbox poetry, neurodivergence, LGBTQ identity and mental health has appeared on Button Poetry, at the Tate Modern, Glastonbury Festival, Symphony Hall, BBC and Sky Arts. Their poem about the pandemic, filmed on a rollercoaster, was broadcast across America on PBS. Their debut solo single about sexuality ,‘Dancing To Music You Hate’, fuses Celtic Dubstep and spoken word.

Ayan Aden is Birmingham’s 24th Poet Laureate (2024–26), a performance poet, cultural strategist and founder whose work bridges heritage, community and creative infrastructure. Rooted in Somali-British identity, she merges Somali oral tradition with contemporary poetics to advance cultural equity and shape narratives of belonging. As founder of Somalinimo UK and the Birmingham Poetry Network, she creates impact through community-led programming, strategic consultancy and educational outreach. Her work spans art, policy and storytelling, building frameworks that honour the past while imagining what is yet to come.

Adrian Blackledge was Birmingham Poet Laureate 2014-2016. He is a winner of the Eric Gregory Award for poetry. His poems have been widely published, including in London Magazine, The Spectator, Encounter, Orbis, The Reader, Smiths Knoll, The Interpreter’s House and The Rialto. His poetry was displayed by University of Birmingham as part of the Largely in your hands exhibition, which celebrated the university’s 125th anniversary. He is currently developing poetry and creative practice as a response to ethnographic research.