Why has the Poetry Out Loud anthology changed from previous years?
As the nation prepares to commemorate its 250th anniversary,
the federal government is emphasizing programming in 2026 that honors American
history and culture. Accordingly, the poems selected for the 2025-2026 Poetry
Out Loud competition highlight American poets as well as poems that embody the
nation’s indomitable spirit, creativity, innovation and the nation’s rich
cultural and historical heritage. All of the poems for 2025-2026 are in the
public domain. After November 1, we don’t anticipate making any changes to the
anthology for 2025-2026.
If a student has selected a poem that is not in the current
anthology, please be advised they will need to replace their previous choice
with another poem from the anthology for the official competition.
Why aren’t there any poems by contemporary poets or others that aren’t in public domain?
The Poetry Out Loud anthology prior to 2025-2026 was maintained by the Poetry Foundation, which was formerly responsible for poem rights. Poetry Foundation announced this summer they would no longer play this role for the Poetry Out Loud program, beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Thus, the previous anthology is no longer available or applicable to the 2025-2026 year. With this substantive change and the length of time it takes to obtain poem permissions, this year’s anthology includes poems in the public domain that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture.
Why aren’t the poems available by category?
For the 2025-2026 program, students can choose any three poems from the anthology. Students do not need to select a poem that is 25 lines or fewer or a pre-20th century poem.
Over the fall, the website will be updated with filters to search by different poem themes (i.e. nature).
What are the prizes?
National Level: A total of $50,000 in awards and school/organizational stipends will be given at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals, including a $20,000 award for the National Champion, $10,000 for 2nd place, $5,000 for 3rd place, and $1,000 for 4th-9th places. The representing schools/organizations of each of the top nine finalists receive $500 for the purchase of poetry materials. There will be one honorable mention in each of the three national semifinals competitions. Those students will not advance to the finals, but will each receive a $1,000 cash award and a $500 school/organizational stipend.
State Level: Each winner at the state level will receive $200. The state winner’s school/organization will receive $500 for poetry materials. One runner-up in each state will receive $100; their school/organization will receive $200 for the purchase of poetry materials.
Mid Atlantic Arts provides and administers all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded for Poetry Out Loud.
Are there any participation restrictions?
No student may be excluded from participating in Poetry Out Loud on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, disability, or national origin. Schools may determine eligibility for classroom and school level Poetry Out Loud programming pursuant to local and state law. A National Champion is not eligible to compete in future years. For prize information, please go to our Rules page.
Students may compete at either their high school or a local participating organization—they may not compete with both.
How can I get my class, school, or organization involved in Poetry Out Loud?
Participating state and jurisdictional arts agencies recruit high schools to participate in the official Poetry Out Loud program. You must first contact your state’s Poetry Out Loud coordinator to find out more information on how to sign up your school or organization to participate. You will then work with the state coordinator to get the program up and running in your school. We provide all the necessary materials for Poetry Out Loud on this website. If your school or organization is not officially participating, please feel free to use the online materials to run your own, unofficial program.
How much class time does Poetry Out Loud take to run?
The official Poetry Out Loud program is implemented in schools in the fall and early winter. The program does not require full class periods and can be completed in 2-3 weeks. There are, however, many opportunities to make Poetry Out Loud part of a larger poetry curriculum.
Can students choose poetry outside of the poems in the anthology?
No—only poems in the anthology on the Poetry Out Loud website are eligible. In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud program will focus on poems that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture. If a poem from the original print anthology is chosen, it must also appear in the current Poetry Out Loud anthology to be eligible.
What are the judging criteria?
All contestants are evaluated on these criteria: physical presence, voice and articulation, evidence of understanding, interpretation, accuracy, and overall performance.