
Join House of PainT as they kick off their 2026 festival with Ottawa’s largest and most competitive poetry slam, the OG500. This intense head-to-head competition hosts some of the city’s most talented poets facing off in a three-round competition for a grand prize of $500.
No props, no musical accompaniment, no costumes. Just pure poetry! The event is judged by the audience for a few rounds and then goes to a guest judge.
Join us this year as we collaborate with the NAC to host this revered event in the Fourth Stage.
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Event Details

National Arts Centre
Canada's bilingual, multi-disciplinary home for the performing arts, featuring four performance venues, the NAC Orchestra, and the 1 Elgin restaurant with Rideau Canal views. A National Historic Site with Brutalist architecture and a striking 2017 glass addition by Diamond Schmitt Architects.
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