Poetry Out Loud is a national recitation contest that celebrates the power of the spoken word and a mastery of public speaking skills while cultivating self-confidence and an appreciation of students’ literary heritage as they take poetry from the page to the stage. Poetry Out Loud has inspired hundreds of thousands of high school students to discover and appreciate both classic and contemporary poetry.
Registration is open to schools, organizations, and individuals.
Registration Dates:
- Registration opens Wednesday, September 3, 2025
- Registration deadline is Wednesday, November 26, 2025
- School Contest Deadline: Friday, December 19, 2025
- Semi Finalist Registration Deadline: Friday, January 9, 2026
- Semi Finals: Saturday February 7, Sunday February 8, and Monday February 9, 2026
- State Finals: Sunday, March 8, 2026
