Poetry Out Loud 2026–27 — High-School Recitation Competition

National Endowment for the Arts / Mid Atlantic Arts

Open · No deadline listed · United States — enter through state coordinator

Perform published poetry from memory in a national competition for grades 9–12. This is RECITATION, rather than an original-poem writing contest. Join through a school or organization registered with your state coordinator; homeschool students and students whose schools do not participate should contact that coordinator for a route to entry. Use poems from the current 2026–27 official anthology. State and national finalists prepare three poems, including one of 25 lines or fewer and one published before 1930; one poem can satisfy both conditions. Perform without props or costumes. Registration deadlines vary by state and school, so ask your coordinator now. State contests finish by March 7, 2027; national finals events run April 26–28 in Washington, DC. National prizes: $20,000 first, $10,000 second, $5,000 third; state champions receive $200. Materials are free; review prize/travel paperwork rules.