Poetry Out Loud
2026 Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals & Finals
Join us for the Poetry Out Loud® National Finals April 28–29 in Washington, DC, as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday! Reciting poetry from an anthology that celebrates historic American voices, state and jurisdictional champions will compete for the national champion title and a $20,000 cash prize.
You can watch the competition live in person at Lisner Auditorium, The George Washington University, 730 21st Street NW, Washington, DC, or online through a one-time-only webcast on this page. A total of $50,000 in awards and school or organizational stipends will be awarded at the National Finals.
Read the full press release for details
National Semifinals—Tuesday, April 28, 2026
The state and jurisdictional champions will compete in one of three National Semifinals between 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. ET. All three semifinals are free and open to the public—no ticket required.
- 9:00 a.m. ET—Champions from Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- 1:00 p.m. ET—Champions from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
- 5:00 p.m. ET—Champions from Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
National Finals—Wednesday, April 29, 2026
The National Finals, hosted by actress Justine “Icy” Moral, will take place at 7:00 p.m. ET, and will culminate with the announcement of the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Champion.
Join the conversation on X and Instagram using #POL26 and #IAmPoetryOutLoud and follow Poetry Out Loud on Instagram at @IAmPoetryOutLoud and Facebook at facebook.com/PoetryOutLoud.
About Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud® lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. Through this program, high school students across the country participate in a dynamic poetry recitation competition that is designed to improve their public speaking skills, help build confidence, and teach them about literary history.
In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud program focuses on poems that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture.
An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with state and jurisdictional arts agencies and managed by Mid Atlantic Arts, Poetry Out Loud provides free educational materials to teachers and organizers, including an online poem anthology. Find your state contact on PoetryOutLoud.org.
Study on Impact of Poetry Out Loud
Line by Line: Transforming Student Lives and Learning with the Art of Poetry presents findings from an evaluation of Poetry Out Loud that involves data collection from ten sample schools assessing the program’s impact on poetry appreciation and engagement, social and emotional development, and academic performance. A fact sheet summarizing the results is also available.
