National YoungArts Week: Writers’ Readings & Film Screenings

An evening of original storytelling and short films highlights emerging voices in contemporary writing and cinema at one of Miami’s most historic theaters.

The 2026 National YoungArts Week: Writers’ Readings & Film Screenings takes place on Friday, January 9, at the Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater, presenting work by YoungArts competition winners with distinction in Writing and Film. Selected through a rigorous, blind adjudication process, these young artists represent the highest level of achievement in their disciplines and share original readings and film screenings in a focused, one-night program.

This event is a recurring component of National YoungArts Week, the annual gathering that brings together exceptional artists ages 15–18 from across the United States for mentorship, collaboration, and public presentation. Through showcases like this one, audiences are invited to engage directly with the next generation of writers and filmmakers at a pivotal stage in their creative development.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the program beginning promptly at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are available, with discounted pricing for students and complimentary admission for past YoungArts winners. The program will also be livestreamed online. Please note that content may include explicit language or sensitive themes.