Texas Poetry Out Loud

08/31/2026

This year's Poetry Out Loud anthology is now live on the program's website! All poems eligible for this year's competition can be found on this page: https://poetryoutloud.org/search/?type=poems

Poetry Out Loud is an engaging opportunity for high school students to develop public speaking skills, increase their literary knowledge, and build self-confidence through poetry recitation. The benefits go far beyond the competition, offering students a deep connection to language and culture.

It is free to participate in Poetry Out Loud. If you are interested in conducting a Poetry Out Loud competition in your community and have not already registered, message us to receive program materials and relevant updates.

08/21/2026

School is in session, and so is Texas Poetry Out Loud! High schools and organizations can conduct the program and competition for 9th-12th graders this semester using the resources on this page: https://poetryoutloud.org/teachers-and-organizers/teachers-organizers/

The national anthology will be available by September 1 for student use-- mark your calendars!

04/28/2026

Go Almaz!! We're rooting for you today!!

Close out National Poetry Month by rooting for our 2026 Texas Poetry Out Loud champ, Almaz Clawson, as she competes in the national semi-finals today! The semi-finals will be livestreamed at https://www.arts.gov/initiatives/poetry-out-loud

Almaz will compete in the third semi-final, which starts at 4 PM Central. She is an 11th grader at the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts in Dallas.

Photo: Lens of Athena Photography

04/01/2026

Preaching to the choir, but we wanted to share these resources! The article refers to Texas Poetry Out Loud finals MC Naomi Shihab Nye as well!

No fooling: April is National Poetry Month, and 2026 is the 30th anniversary!

Check out the many ways to celebrate here: https://poets.org/national-poetry-month-30th-anniversary.

Keep an eye out for events in your community this month, or organize one!

Here are many good reasons to include more poetry in your life: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_poetry_changes_you_and_your_brain

03/04/2026

We had a great time Saturday at the Texas Poetry Out Loud finals! Congratulations to Almaz and Joslynn-- we wish we could send you both to DC!

Bullock Texas State History Museum Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts NSITE Northside School of Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship Poetry Out Loud: National Recitation Contest

It gives us great joy to congratulate Almaz Clawson, right, and Joslynn Ratcliffe, left, on their performance at today’s Texas Poetry Out Loud finals! Almaz, a student at the Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing & Visual Arts in Dallas, is our new state champ! Joslynn, our runner-up, attends Oliver Wendell Holmes High School in San Antonio. We congratulate them and the other finalists who competed today, and we thank our partner, Bullock Texas State History Museum, for hosting the event!

📸: Lens of Athena Photography

11/30/2025

Have you explored the lesson plans and resources for this year's poems? Check it out for more insights into poetry and how to convey its meaning to a classroom or a general audience.

https://poetryoutloud.org/teachers-and-organizers/lesson-plans/

10/10/2025

The Poetry Out Loud website, including the anthology and teacher's guide, have been updated for this year!

In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud program will focus on poems that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture. Click the “Find Poems” tab for an updated list of poems for this year’s competition. *Note: There may be additional poems added to this anthology through October 31, 2025.

All poems must be selected from the Poetry Out Loud America 250 Online Anthology. Only versions of poems from the official America 250 Online Anthology may be used in the competition. At the state and national finals, students must have 3 poems prepared. No other poem selection criteria apply to the 2026 program.

Each winner at the state level receives $200 and an all-expenses-paid trip (with an adult chaperone) to Washington, DC, to compete at the National Finals. The state winner’s school/organization receives $500 for the purchase of poetry materials. The first runner-up in each state receives $100, with $200 for their school/organization. At the national finals, a total of $50,000 in awards and school/organizational stipends are awarded annually including a $20,000 award for the National Champion, $10,000 for 2nd place, $5,000 for 3rd place, and $1,000 for 4th-12th places. The representing schools/organizations of each of the top 12 finalists receive $500 for the purchase of poetry materials.

See it all at https://poetryoutloud.org/

10/03/2025

Texas Commission on the Arts is taking registrations from Texas schools and organizations serving high school students for the 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud competition! For this year, Poetry Out Loud will focus on America 250 in celebration of the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, featuring poems celebrating the rich tapestry of American stories. This year's anthology of poems is available now at https://www.poetryoutloud.org/.