From September through January, schools are invited to hold classroom and school-wide competitions, with students advancing to a state competition on Sunday, March 7, 2027, in Albuquerque.
Source: New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs
Photo: Courtesy (Featured: Hadas Frish, 2026 NM State Champion)
Santa Fe, NM — New Mexico Arts (NMA) invites high school students to participate in Poetry Out Loud, an arts education program of the National Endowment for the Arts. This dynamic poetry recitation competition is designed to improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and teach about literary history and contemporary life.
From September through January, schools are invited to hold classroom and school-wide competitions, with students advancing to a state competition on Sunday, March 7, 2027, in Albuquerque. Non-school organizations, such as after-school clubs, libraries, or nonprofit organizations, may also participate in Poetry Out Loud. Students may only compete through one path—either through their school or through an organization. As part of the Poetry Out Loud program, free, standards-based curriculum materials are available online for teachers to incorporate into their classrooms. These resources include an online poetry anthology, a teacher’s guide, and instructional videos on the art of poetry recitation. All materials can be accessed at PoetryOutLoud.org.
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“Each year, students, parents, and teachers tell us that Poetry Out Loud has a lasting impact on participants,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “By studying and reciting poetry, young people discover new ways to connect with language, express complex ideas and emotions with confidence, and stand before an audience ready to use their voice.”
State champions will advance to the national finals in Washington, DC, April 27-28, 2027, where $50,000 in awards and school stipends will be distributed. Last year, New Mexico’s State Champion, Hadas Frish from La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, placed in the top 9 in the nation, earning a $1,000 scholarship prize, and La Cueva High School received $500 for the purchase of poetry materials.
Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.6 million students across the country have participated in Poetry Out Loud. An initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts, Poetry Out Loud is administered at the state level by the state and jurisdictional arts agencies and is managed in partnership with Mid Atlantic Arts.
“Poetry Out Loud” isn't just recitation; it is a journey of personal growth where young voices discover their own power. This is a wonderful opportunity that empowers our students to rise, speak, and shine—proving that a single recited line can spark possibility, purpose, and pride," said Kevin Lenkner, New Mexico Poetry Out Loud coordinator at NMA.
High schools and organizations that would like to participate in Poetry Out Loud must register with New Mexico Arts by December 4, 2026. Schools and organizations that are not in the official program may conduct their own contests using online resources. Contact Kevin Lenkner at NMA at 505-412-5791 or kevin.lenkner@dca.nm.gov or visit nmarts.org/all-programs/poetry-out-loud/.
About New Mexico Arts
New Mexico Arts, the state’s federally recognized arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs, administers the One Percent for Public Art program, awards grants to nonprofit organizations for arts and cultural programs in their communities, and provides direct programming, technical assistance and educational opportunities for organizations, artists and arts educators throughout the state.
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