Poetry Out Loud
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Utah's High School Poetry Competitions
Each year UA&M sponsors two different poetry competitions for students in grades 9-12. Students are welcome to participate in either contest or in both.
Poetry Out Loud
is a nationwide poetry reciting competition
9-12 grade students memorize and recite three poems in front of live judges. Local winners advance to regionals, then to state, and then to the national finals in Washington, D.C.
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- All students who reach the state final receive cash prizes.
- The national Poetry Out Loud competition also awards cash prizes to winning students and to their schools for the purchase of poetry books for their library.
- A $20,000 award goes to the national champion.
- Participating schools may request free hands-on student workshops with Utah Poet Laureate Lisa Bickmore!
Poetry Ourselves
is a statewide poetry writing competition!
Utah’s 9th-12th graders can submit their own original poetry in English or in Spanish. The winning entries are recognized at a live event each spring.
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- Cash prizes are awarded to winners and runners-up
- Students may submit either one or two original poems of any format — or up to ten original haiku
- Poems must be 25 lines or less
- Poems may be submitted in English or in Spanish.
- FREE Spanish-language poetry workshops are available through our outreach partners. Please contact Justin Ivie to inquire about availability.
- The entry deadline is JANUARY 30, 2026!
TEACHERS register here to host a local contest at your school or organization
STUDENTS register here to submit your original poetry
Learn more about each of these exciting competitions in the MORE DETAILS sections below
Poetry Out Loud - More Details
The National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation have partnered with the Utah Arts & Museums Arts Education Program to support Poetry Out Loud, which encourages Utah’s youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. UA&M has proudly hosted this national competition for Utah students since 20o6.
Why Should my School or Organization do Poetry Out Loud?
- Poetry Out Loud helps students practice public speaking skills and build self-confidence through peer connections, while learning about literary history and contemporary life.
- POL participation aligns with the state core curriculum standards in English Language Arts for 9-12th grade.
- Poetry Out Loud encourages the study of great poetry by offering free educational materials for teachers in classrooms and all the resources needed to host a local contest. Find these resources on our teacher resources page and at the national Poetry Out Loud website.
- Poetry Out Loud participating schools may request free, hands-on student workshops with Utah Poet Laureate Lisa Bickmore. Read more about this exciting opportunity, including how to request a school visit on our Poet Laureate page.
- The state winner of Poetry Out Loud and one accompanying adult will receive a free trip to Washington, D.C. to compete in the national finals.
- The national Poetry Out Loud competition awards cash prizes totalling more than $100,000 to students across the country, and to their schools for the purchase of poetry books for their library.
- A $20,000 award goes to the national champion.
- A stipend of up to $100 is available for teachers who register, successfully administer a POL competition for their students and complete a report form to UA&M.
Contact [email protected] or [email protected] for more information.
Important Dates
The calendar for Poetry Out Loud includes the following important deadlines.
- School-level Poetry Out Loud competitions must be held by the end of January (or the very beginning of February at the latest.) (Exact deadlines will vary by region and are TBD.)
- The deadline for student entries to Poetry Ourselves is Jan. 30, 2026.
- POL Regional Competitions will usually take place between Feb. 4 and 19, 2026.
- Utah State POL Finals are Mar. 4, 2026
- National Finals in DC are Apr. 27-29 2026.
Registration
For Poetry Out Loud, teachers and organizers must register for their school, class, or organization to participate. Once registered, they must then hold a local-level competition which helps prepare their local champion for the regional competition.
- If you are a student, you do not need to register for Poetry Out Loud. If a student wishes to participate, but their teacher or school does not, please contact [email protected].
- To sign up, click the registration button below.
- After you register, your regional coordinator will reach out with more help and information.
Register here to host POL at your School or Organization
Check out our resource page for teachers and organizers to use for Poetry Out Loud in Utah!
Poetry Ourselves - More Details
Why participate in Poetry Ourselves?
- Cash prizes are awarded every year for winning poems and runners-up!
- Winners will be invited to read their poem aloud at the Utah Poetry Out Loud State Final event on March 4, 2026.
- FREE Spanish-language poetry workshops are available to through our outreach partners. Please contact [email protected] or [email protected] to inquire about availability.
Guidelines
- Students must be Utah residents, currently in the 9-12 grade to enter.
- Student poems may be submitted in either English or Spanish. Prizes may be awarded in each category.
- Students may submit either one or two original poems of any format — OR up to a maximum of ten original haiku.
- Submitted poems must be 25 lines or fewer (each line of 12 pt. type with one-inch margins counts as one line). Longer works will be disqualified.
- Poems may be rhyme, free verse, haiku, prose poetry, or other accepted poetry forms.
- The title may be listed above the poem (the title does not count as a line of poetry.)
- DO NOT include the name of the student anywhere on the uploaded poetry submission - entries will be judged anonymously.
- The final submission deadline for Poetry Ourselves 2025/26 is Jan. 30, 2026
Registration
For Poetry Ourselves, students may enter the contest directly at the link below. No need to register as a school or a class.
- Registration for Poetry Ourselves 2025/2026 will open in fall 2025.
- To sign up, click the registration button below.
- At the end of registration, you will be asked to upload your entry.
Poetry Out Loud Video
A Little History
Since 2006, five Utah Champions have received an accolade at the National Competition.
- In 2012, MarKaye Hassan of Logan High School placed third and received $5,000. She returned to Washington, D.C., to recite at the National Book Festival.
- In 2008, Skyline High School senior Madison Niermeyer also placed third and received $5,000. Beat poet Lawrence Ferlinghetti wrote Madison a letter congratulating her on her recitation of his poem “I Am Waiting.”
- In 2007, Amanda E Fujiki of Meridian School placed in the national top 10. Ashlei Havili of American Fork High School (2014) and Devin Jones of West Jordan High School (2013) both received honorable mentions. Each of them received $1000.
Past Competitions
