(WASHINGTON, DC) -- After months of competitions in classrooms and communities nationwide, the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Finals will take place April 28–29 in Washington, DC. Reciting poetry from an anthology that celebrates historic American voices in recognition of America's 250th anniversary, state and jurisdictional champions will compete for the national champion title and a $20,000 cash prize. Joy Ogunsakin, a senior from Trinity Hall in Tinton Falls, will be representing New Jersey.
Ogunsakin was named State Champion at the 2026 New Jersey Poetry Out Loud State Finals, part of the National Poetry Out Loud recitation program. The adjudication took place on March 3rd at Count Basie Center for the Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey.
Poetry Out Loud is a dynamic poetry recitation competition for high school students that is designed to improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and teach about literary history. Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with participating state and jurisdictional arts agencies and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts.
On Tuesday, April 28, participating state and jurisdictional champions will compete in the national semifinals. Nine finalists will then proceed to the finals on Wednesday, April 29, hosted by actress Justine "Icy" Moral, who currently stars as Martha Jefferson in Ford Theatre's production of 1776. The semifinals and finals will take place at the Lisner Auditorium at the George Washington University and will be available through a one-time only webcast at Arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud. Visit PoetryOutLoud.org for the list of the 2026 Poetry Out Loud champions who will take part in the competition.
"Poetry Out Loud helps students discover the power of language while building confidence, communication skills, and a deeper connection to literature," said National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter. "We are thrilled to welcome our champions to Washington, DC, during America's 250th birthday. In reciting works that helped shape our nation's history, they are honoring the past while developing the skills to shape the future."
A total of $50,000 in cash prizes and school or organizational stipends will be awarded at the national finals, including $20,000 for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion, and $10,000 and $5,000 for the second- and third-place finalists, respectively. Mid Atlantic Arts administers the National Finals and all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded for Poetry Out Loud.
National Semifinals—Tuesday, April 28, 2026
The state and jurisdictional champions will compete in one of three National Semifinals between 9:00 a.m. – 8:00pm ET at Lisner Auditorium, the George Washington University, 730 21st Street NW, Washington, DC. All three semifinals are free and open to the public—no ticket required.
Each poem recitation will be judged on criteria including physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy. The top three students from each semifinal, nine in total, will move on to the National Finals on April 29.
* 9:00am ET—Champions from Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
* 1:00pm ET—Champions from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
* 5:00pm ET—Champions from Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
National Finals—Wednesday, April 29, 2026
The National Finals, hosted by actress Justine "Icy" Moral, will take place at 7:00pm ET, also at Lisner Auditorium, the George Washington University, and will culminate with the announcement of the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Champion. The National Finals are free and open to the public—no ticket required.
Judges are Elizabeth Acevedo, Amanda Johnston, Jon Peede, Allison Pelegrin, and Brian Turner. The evening will also include a performance by dance company Step Afrika! The founder of Step Afrika!, C. Brian Williams, was recognized by the Arts Endowment with a National Heritage Fellowship in 2022.
Closed captioning in English and Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided for both the Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals and Finals.
Join the conversation on X and Instagram using #POL26 and #IAmPoetryOutLoud and follow Poetry Out Loud on Instagram at @IAmPoetryOutLoud and Facebook at facebook.com/PoetryOutLoud.
Poetry Out Loud lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. The program starts in the classroom/school or at the local level with an area organization. Students memorize and recite poems they select from an anthology of more than 1,200 classic and contemporary poems. Winners then may advance to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.5 million students and 85,000 teachers from 21,000 schools and organizations across the nation have participated in Poetry Out Loud.
Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States.
Mid Atlantic Arts supports artists, presenters, and organizations through unique programming, grant support, partnerships, and information sharing. Created in 1979, Mid Atlantic Arts is aligned with the region's state arts councils and the National Endowment for the Arts. Mid Atlantic Arts combines state and federal funding with private support from corporations, foundations, and individuals to nurture diverse artistic expression while connecting people to meaningful arts experiences within our region and beyond.
