Poetry Out Loud 2026–27 — US school and organization route

Poetry Out Loud is a National Endowment for the Arts program with state/jurisdictional arts agencies, administered by Mid Atlantic Arts. Students recite poems from the official anthology, not their own writing. Begin with a school or participating local organization registered with the state coordinator, then qualify through lower-level contests to a state final and potentially Washington, DC. At state/national levels prepare three poems: one 25 lines or fewer and one published before 1930; a single poem can satisfy both. Recite from memory without props, costumes, walking around or moving the microphone from its stand. Scores combine physical presence, articulation, interpretation, understanding, overall performance and accuracy. Poem order is chosen by the entrant and cannot change once submitted.