Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud is a free recitation competition in which students memorize and perform poems, advancing from their classroom or school through regional and state rounds to the National Finals in Washington, DC. Registration happens through a school or a state Poetry Out Loud coordinator, and there is no cost to participate. State-level winners receive cash and poetry-materials stipends, and the National Finals award $50,000 total, including a $20,000 prize for the National Champion.

Who can apply

FieldsPoetry · Public Speaking

Logistics

Awards$50,000 total at Nationals: $20,000 champion, $10,000 2nd, $5,000 3rd, $1,000 each for 4th-12th place, plus $500 poetry-materials stipends for each top-12 finalist's school. State winners receive $200, an all-expenses-paid trip to Nationals, and a $500 school stipend.

Applying

You submitRegister through a school or state Poetry Out Loud coordinator, then recite memorized poems through classroom, school, regional/state, and national rounds.