In partnership with the Arizona Commission on the Arts, the University of Arizona Poetry Center is delighted to welcome you the 2026–27 season of Poetry Out Loud! We’re especially pleased to see the return of a broader and more contemporary POL anthology. Last season placed a special focus on public domain poems in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary. This year, the National Endowment for the Arts has expanded the anthology once again, offering students a wider range of poems and voices to explore.
Registration for Poetry Out Loud in Arizona is now open through October 31st! Classroom teachers and community organizations can register here.
What is Poetry Out Loud?
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program and dynamic poetry recitation competition for high school students beginning in the classroom and culminating in the National Finals in Washington, DC. The National Endowment for the Arts and The Poetry Foundation partner with state arts agencies to bring the Poetry Out Loud program and dynamic recitation contest to all 50 states and the US territories.
Participants of Poetry Out Loud select a poem from an online anthology of carefully selected poems. They work to memorize this poem and craft a unique performance, making the poem their own and the written word come alive.
Drawing upon elements of spoken word, theater, and slam poetry, Poetry Out Loud cultivates an appreciation of poetry that goes beyond the page. Poetry Out Loud promotes the creativity of performing poetry, not just reading it.
How do students benefit?
Poetry Out Loud is a transformative arts education program. It fosters community and connection by uniting students through the shared experiences of celebrating poetry. It also engages and challenges a variety of learners. Analyzing, interpreting, and performing poetry develops critical thinking and analytical skills that are helpful in other subjects.
Students are often inspired to write their own poetry and share their work with peers. Poetry Out Loud creates lifelong lovers of poetry and creative writing. Reciting poetry fosters emotional maturity and self-confidence.
How to get started:
Educators, librarians, or club leaders who would like to participate register themselves for the program – one registration per school or organization. Once registered, each participating educator/school receives access to free multimedia curriculum materials – a poetry anthology, teachers and organizers’ guide, poetry books, and a comprehensive website all aligned to national standards – augmenting their regular poetry curriculum with poetry recitation and a classroom-level competition. School-level recitation champions compete to advance to the regional, state, and then national levels. (Student finalists must compete in each stage of competition to advance to the next.)
Be sure to visit our Poetry Out Loud page for more information about the program and our partner organizations, as well as links to learning tools and the online poem anthology.
View and download the Arizona Poetry Out Loud Flyer here.
View and download offerings for Arizona classrooms here.
How to Register:
Registration for Poetry Out Loud 2025 is now open for high school teachers, librarians, and educators that would like to sign up their classes up for the program. Click here to register before the October 31, 2025 deadline!
