Poetry Out Loud 2026–2027 Maryland Program

About this program

The Maryland State Arts Council (MSAC), in collaboration with Maryland Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts’ Poetry Out Loud program, supports free poetry recitation competitions for high school students, with educational materials, advancement opportunities, and monetary prizes at regional and state levels. Students select and recite three poems from the Poetry Out Loud Anthology, with national finals awarding $50,000 in student prizes and school stipends annually. The program is open to all Maryland high school students, with schools, community organizations, and independent or homeschooled students eligible to register by November 15, 2026. Host schools and organizations must conduct local competitions by January 11, 2027.