Poetry Out Loud
ListedCompetition
- Award
- National champion $20,000; second $10,000; third $5,000; fourth through ninth $1,000 each, plus one $1,000 honorable mention from each of three semifinals. State champion $200 and one state runner-up $100. Separate school/organization poetry-material stipends: $500 for national finalists, semifinal honorable mentions and state champions; $200 for state runners-up.
- Timeline
- Mar 7, 2027Local/school entry and competition dates vary by state. State contests must finish
- Mar 10, 2027State champion and chaperone registration . National events April 26 to 28, 2027 in Washington, D.C.
- Apr 28, 2027Final at ET.
- How to apply
- Enter through a school or local organization registered with the state coordinator and advance through lower-level contests. Choose only one school/organization competition stream. Prepare three official-anthology poems for state/national finals, including one no more than 25 lines and one published before 1930; one poem can meet both criteria. State winners and chaperones register for the National Finals and submit tax-identification forms for travel.
- What you'll need
- A speech or recorded oration
- A finalist round or selection weekend
- Who can apply
- Currently enrolled grades 9 to 12, with an exception for grade 8 students in a grades 9-12 class. Homeschoolers may enter through a willing local school or homeschool competition coordinated with the state. Prior national champions cannot return. Relatives/household members of national organizers cannot advance nationally; relatives of state coordinators and affiliated sponsors/contractors cannot advance beyond school level in that state.
- Good to know
- Only versions in the official anthology as of September 1, 2026 are eligible for 2026-27. Each competition needs at least two students. Valid W-9 or W-8BEN forms are required for prizes and arranged travel/lodging; awards are taxable and some foreign recipients face withholding. The national event includes state-champion travel with an adult chaperone. School stipends are separate from student cash awards.
- Details
- Arts