ROAR Story Slam is an annual live storytelling competition where six finalists specially selected from our submission pool, will perform their unique, creative and authentic Korean American Story for a chance to win a cash prize of up to $1,000. Each finalist will have no more than six minutes to tell their story, without the use of scripts nor props. Our goals are to encourage Korean Americans to recognize the significance and range of our community’s narratives, to document and preserve them and to showcase them for the community and beyond.
Our theme for this year’s ROAR Story Slam is “Joy”
Though we love stories about family and food, we encourage you to explore areas such as work, physical and mental health, relationships, language, sexuality, and society. Try different styles (narrative or spoken word) and tones (light or heavy, comedic or dramatic, or somewhere in between), but all stories must be about your own real-life experiences as you remember them.
Prizes
Grand Prize: $1,000
Second Place: $500
Third place: $250
Runner Ups: $100
Rules:
• Entrants must be at least 18 years of age.
• Submissions must be in English. Any Korean or other language used must be translated.
• This competition is intended for those who identify as Korean American. Although entrants can reside anywhere in the world, the selected finalists must be able to compete live in NYC on Saturday April 18, 2026. Needs-based financial support for travel is available on a case by case basis.
• For the live event, stories must be told without scripts or props. (You may use/hold a script for your initial submission)
• Live performances that run over six minutes may be penalized during judging.
• This competition is intended for those who identify as Korean American. Although entrants can reside anywhere in the world, the selected finalists must be able to compete live in NYC on Saturday April 18, 2026. Needs-based financial support for travel is available on a case by case basis.
• Selected finalists are required to attend a virtual professional storytelling coaching session, provided free of charge to you, via Zoom. Finalists must be available and able to schedule the coaching sessions between March 5 – April 4, 2026.
• Selected finalists must agree to sign a waiver allowing Korean American Story the right to record, edit and use the live event video.
How to Enter
Performance Video
• Record a video of yourself telling your story in 4 to 6 minutes. No submissions shorter or longer will be reviewed.
• The video should be filmed at half-body distance (no close-ups), standing (if able) and ideally with a simple indoor background.
• Please upload your video to YouTube as “unlisted” and include a WRITTEN version of your story in the description. If it does not fit, please attach a word document to roar@koreanamericanstory.org with your YouTube link.
• If you are submitting something you have presented elsewhere, you are still required to adhere to this format. Please do not submit an old video unless it conforms to this required format.
• Selected finalists must agree to sign a waiver allowing Korean American Story the right to record, edit and use the live event video.
Check out the videos of our past story slam events for some examples here.
Our ROAR Story Slam 2026 will be held at Racket in NYC.
Finalists will be selected by a panel of judges and will be notified by email by Tuesday, Feb 24, 2026.
Submission deadline:
February 15, 2026 at 11:59PM EST
EVENT DATE:
Saturday, April 18, 2026
Event Venue:
Racket, 431 W 16th St, NY, NY
