High School Students from Across Nation to Compete in Poetry Out Loud National Finals
Students to Compete for $20,000 Grand Prize May 6-7, 2025, as Program Celebrates 20th Anniversary
Washington, DC and Chicago, IL—Out of the 157,000 students who participated in Poetry Out Loud nationwide this school year, 55 are now advancing to the 2025 National Finals May 6-7 in Washington, DC, where one will win the national champion title and a $20,000 cash prize. This marks the 20th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud, an exciting poetry recitation competition and arts education program that encourages the study of contemporary and classic poems. Since its inception in 2005, Poetry Out Loud has reached more than 4.5 million students.
On Tuesday, May 6, one champion from every state and American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands will compete in the national semifinals. Nine finalists will then proceed to the finals on Wednesday, May 7, hosted by National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Mac Barnett. The semifinals and finals will take place at the Lisner Auditorium at the George Washington University and will be available through a one-time only webcast at Arts.gov/Poetry-Out-Loud. Visit PoetryOutLoud.org for the list of the 2025 Poetry Out Loud champions who will take part in the competition.
Poetry Out Loud is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Poetry Foundation along with state and jurisdictional arts agencies.
“We are thrilled to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Poetry Out Loud by welcoming these talented students to Washington, DC, for the National Finals,” said Amy Stolls, director of Literary Arts at the National Endowment for the Arts. “This event represents the culmination of months of dedication and hard work from not only our champions, but also the family members, teachers, and mentors who have supported them every step of the way. These students will showcase a level of skill, poise, and passion that will serve them well wherever they go, and we look forward to watching them shine on the National Finals stage.”
“The Poetry Out Loud program is a testament to the power of words to transform lives, and every one of the finalists competing this year is living proof of it,” said Poetry Foundation president and CEO, Michelle T. Boone. “For 20 years, the Poetry Foundation’s staff and board members have been proud to welcome these talented young people from across the nation. We thank everyone who supported them throughout their Poetry Out Loud journey, and look forward to cheering them all at the finals!”
A total of $50,000 in cash prizes and school or organizational stipends will be awarded at the National Finals, including $20,000 for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion, and $10,000 and $5,000 for the second- and third-place finalists, respectively. The Poetry Foundation provides and administers all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded for Poetry Out Loud. The Poetry Out Loud National Finals are administered by Mid Atlantic Arts.
National Semifinals—Tuesday, May 6, 2025
The state and jurisdictional champions will compete in one of three National Semifinals between 9 AM – 8 PM ET at Lisner Auditorium, the George Washington University, 730 21st Street NW, Washington, DC. All three semifinals are free and open to the public—no ticket required.
Each poem recitation will be judged on criteria, including physical presence, voice and articulation, interpretation, evidence of understanding, overall performance, and accuracy. The top three students from each semifinal, nine in total, will move on to the National Finals on May 7.
- 9 AM ET—Champions from Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.
- 1 PM ET—Champions from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
- 5 PM ET—Champions from Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
National Finals—Wednesday, May 7, 2025
The National Finals, hosted by National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Mac Barnett, will take place at 7 PM ET, also at Lisner Auditorium, and will culminate with the announcement of the 2025 Poetry Out Loud National Champion. The National Finals are free and open to the public—no ticket required.
Judges are Rick Barot, Carmen Giménez, Candice Iloh, Roderick Justice, and Jasminne Mendez. The evening will also include a performance by singer, songwriter, and poet Jamila Woods, supported by the Poetry Foundation.
Closed captioning in English and Spanish and American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation will be provided for both the Poetry Out Loud National Semifinals and Finals.
Join the conversation on X (Twitter) and Instagram using #POL2025, #POL20Years, and #IAmPoetryOutLoud, and follow the National Endowment for the Arts and Poetry Foundation on Instagram at @IAmPoetryOutLoud, @NEAArts, and @PoetryFoundation.
About Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud lifts poetry off the page, creating community and connection. The program starts in the classroom/school or at the local level with an area organization. Students memorize and recite poems they select from an anthology of more than 1,200 classic and contemporary poems. Winners then may advance to a regional and/or state competition, and ultimately to the National Finals. Since the program began in 2005, more than 4.5 million students and 85,000 teachers from 21,000 schools and organizations across the nation have participated in Poetry Out Loud. For more information about Poetry Out Loud and how to participate in the 2025–2026 program, visit PoetryOutLoud.org
About the National Endowment for the Arts
Established by Congress in 1965, the National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the NEA fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. Visit Arts.gov to learn more.
About the Poetry Foundation
The Poetry Foundation recognizes the power of words to transform lives. The Foundation works to amplify poetry and celebrate poets by fostering spaces for all to create, experience, and share poetry. Follow the Poetry Foundation and Poetry magazine on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
About Mid Atlantic Arts
Mid Atlantic Arts supports artists, presenters, and organizations through unique programming, grant support, partnerships, and information sharing. Created in 1979, Mid Atlantic Arts is aligned with the region’s state arts councils and the National Endowment for the Arts. Mid Atlantic Arts combines state and federal funding with private support from corporations, foundations, and individuals to nurture diverse artistic expression while connecting people to meaningful arts experiences within our region and beyond. To learn more about Mid Atlantic Arts visit www.midatlanticarts.org.
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