High School Students from Across Nation to Compete in Poetry Out Loud National Finals

Washington, DC-After months of competitions in classrooms and communities nationwide, the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Finals will take place April 28-29 in Washington, DC. Reciting poetry from an anthology that celebrates historic American voices in recognition of America's 250th anniversary, state and jurisdictional champions will compete for the national champion title and a $20,000 cash prize.

After months of competitions in classrooms and communities nationwide, the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Finals will take place April 28-29 in Washington, DC. Reciting poetry from an anthology that celebrates historic American voices in recognition of America's 250th anniversary, state and jurisdictional champions will compete for the national champion title and a $20,000 cash prize.

On Tuesday, April 28, participating state and jurisdictional champions will compete in the national semifinals. Nine finalists will then proceed to the finals on Wednesday, April 29, hosted by actress Justine "Icy" Moral, who currently stars as Martha Jefferson in Ford Theatre's production of 1776. The semifinals and finals will take place at the Lisner Auditorium at the George Washington University and will be available through a one-time only webcast at Arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud. Visit PoetryOutLoud.org for the list of the 2026 Poetry Out Loud champions who will take part in the competition.

"Poetry Out Loud helps students discover the power of language while building confidence, communication skills, and a deeper connection to literature," said National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter. "We are thrilled to welcome our champions to Washington, DC, during America's 250th birthday. In reciting works that helped shape our nation's history, they are honoring the past while developing the skills to shape the future."

A total of $50,000 in cash prizes and school or organizational stipends will be awarded at the national finals, including $20,000 for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion, and $10,000 and $5,000 for the second- and third-place finalists, respectively. Mid Atlantic Arts administers the National Finals and all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded for Poetry Out Loud.

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 at Lisner Auditorium, the George Washington University, 730 21st Street NW, Washington, DC. All three semifinals are free and open to the public-no ticket required.

Each poem recitation will be judged on criteria including physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy. The top three students from each semifinal, nine in total, will move on to the National Finals on April 29.

• 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, also at Lisner Auditorium, the George Washington University, and will culminate with the announcement of the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Champion. The National Finals are free and open to the public-no ticket required.

Judges are Elizabeth Acevedo, Amanda Johnston, Jon Peede, AllisonPelegrin, and Brian Turner. The evening will also include a performance by dance company Step Afrika! The founder of Step Afrika!, C. Brian Williams, was recognized by the Arts Endowment with a National Heritage Fellowship in 2022.

Closed captioning in English and Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided for both the Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals and Finals.

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. The program starts in the classroom/school or at the local level with an area organization. Students memorize and recite poems they select from an anthology of more than 1,200 classic and contemporary poems. Winners then may advance to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.5 million students and 85,000 teachers from 21,000 schools and organizations across the nation have participated in Poetry Out Loud. For more information about Poetry Out Loud and how to participate in the 2026-2027 program, visit PoetryOutLoud.org.