Poetry Out Loud

Arts Council of Placer County (ACPC) is again hosting the National Endowment for the Arts & Poetry Foundation’s annual Poetry Out Loud Competition.

Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials and a dynamic recitation competition for high school students across the country. This program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about literary history and contemporary life. 

Join the 2026 Placer County Competition today! Timeline and details at the bottom of this page. 

Final deadline to enter with our Placer County Coordinator is: Wednesday, Jan 9, 2026.

Visit www.PoetryOutLoud.org for ALL Details POL 2026 Program Coming Soon

Poetry Out Loud lesson plans: Please click here and here for sample lesson plans – these could be helpful tools for teachers (new and old pros) who are including POL in their classes. The POL YouTube channel also has helpful videos (like this one) that could assist teachers and students alike.

Did you know there’s a POL app? YES, there is! It’s intended for teachers and students alike. Find it here: App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android).

The Poetry Out Loud anthology has been updated for a new year. You can find the anthology here. About 50 new poems are listed this year and 19 have been removed. If you are interested, please see the attached list of the new and removed poems.

Dates: Please see the key dates and deadlines for this year below. 

Questions? Email Delgreta Brown to confirm your interest!
Arts Council of Placer County Board & Poetry Out Loud Organizer
pol@placerarts.org

POL Tips & Examples

A fun video outlining some tips and examples from past Poetry Out Loud competitions. Enjoy!

POL Resources

Congrats to Granite Bay High School for earning 1st Place in 2023!

What’s it like to Compete?

Important Information

Please click here and here for sample lesson plans – these could be helpful tools for teachers (new and old pros) who are including POL in their classes. The POL YouTube channel also has helpful videos (like this one) that could assist teachers and students alike.

Only schools and organizations registered with their state Poetry Out Loud coordinator are eligible for the official competition.

Student Eligibility
Grade Level: Only currently enrolled students in grades 9-12 are eligible, with an exception made for 8th-grade students participating in a 9th- through 12th-grade class.
State Finals: A student may not advance to the state finals without competing in a lower-level competition.

Legal Participation Requirements: No student may be excluded from participating in Poetry Out Loud on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, or national origin. Schools may determine eligibility for classroom and school level Poetry Out Loud programming pursuant to local and state law.

Read more here

Find the Poetry Out Loud App here: App Store (iOS) and Google Play Store (Android).

The Poetry Out Loud anthology has been updated for a new year. You can find the anthology here. About 50 new poems are listed this year and 19 have been removed. If you are interested, please see the attached list of the new and removed poems.

School Registration List Deadline
Fri. Jan. 9, 2026

Deadline to hold County Competitions
Sun. Feb. 8, 2026

Deadline to register County Champions for State Finals with CAC
Mon. Feb. 9, 2026

State Finals (In-person in Sacramento)
Sun. Mar. 8 – Mon. Mar. 9, 2026

National Finals (In-person in Washington, DC)
Mon. Apr. 27 – Wed. Apr. 29, 2026

The POL YouTube channel also has helpful videos (like this one) that could assist teachers and students alike.