The Maine Poetry Out Loud State Finalists at the Waterville Opera House. From left: Maine Arts Commission Executive Director Amy Hausmann, Aaron Theriault, Aaron Soosman, Meghan Rivard, Cole Hickey, Pax Horn, Dashiell Legawiec, Celestine Luzitu, Silver Smith, Persephone Kilcollins, and Anjou Whitmore.
Poetry Out Loud Links
2026-2027 Maine Poetry Out Loud
Registration Open
Bring Poetry Out Loud to Your School or Organization
Maine schools and organizations are invited to register for the 2026-2027 Poetry Out Loud statewide competition.
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, December 1, 2026
Poetry Out Loud is hosted in Maine by the Maine Arts Commission in partnership with the Maine Humanities Council, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The program invites high school students to explore poetry through memorization, interpretation, and performance while building confidence, public speaking skills, and a deeper connection to language.
Meet Us at the Common Ground Country Fair
Friday, September 25, 2026 at 1:45 p.m.
Poetry Grove, Common Ground Country Fair, Unity, Maine
A public information session will introduce the 2026-2027 season. Copies of the Guide for Teachers & Organizers, promotional materials, and posters will be available for participants to take back to their schools and communities.
For additional national Poetry Out Loud resources, visit PoetryOutLoud.org.
About Poetry Out Loud
Poetry Out Loud is a national arts education program that encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. The program is supported by the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Maine Arts Commission and the Maine Humanities Council.
Students begin at the classroom, school, or community level and have opportunities to advance through Maine’s regional and statewide competitions. Additional details for the 2026-2027 season will be added to this page as they become available.
See Poetry Out Loud in Maine
Watch highlights from Maine’s 2025-2026 Poetry Out Loud season and State Finals at the Waterville Opera House.
Program Information & Questions
For questions about Poetry Out Loud in Maine, registration, or the 2026-2027 season, please contact:
Khristina Kurasz
Program Director, Maine Arts Commission
vog.eniam@zsaruk.anitsirhk
Program Partners
Maine Poetry Out Loud is presented by the Maine Arts Commission in partnership with the Maine Humanities Council, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
About the Maine Arts Commission
The Maine Arts Commission fosters and encourages public interest and participation in the cultural heritage and artistic expression of our state. We fulfill our mission through partnerships and collaborations, outreach and advocacy, initiatives, information sharing, and grants for organizations, individual artists, and communities throughout Maine.
Explore Poetry Out Loud
Accessibility Information
For assistance accessing Poetry Out Loud information or Maine Arts Commission website content, please contact Accessibility Coordinator Eli Cabañas at vog.eniam@sanabac.ile or 207-215-5872.
Key Dates
September 25, 2026
Poetry Out Loud Information Session
1:45 p.m. at the Poetry Grove during the Common Ground Country Fair in Unity, Maine. The 2026-2027 Guide for Teachers & Organizers, promotional materials, and posters will be available.
December 1, 2026
Registration Deadline
Schools and organizations must register by Tuesday, December 1, 2026 to participate in this year’s Maine Poetry Out Loud competition.
Additional dates for the 2026-2027 Poetry Out Loud season will be added as they are confirmed.
Accessibility Information
For information about the Maine Arts Commission’s current accessibility policies, our work to advance digital accessibility, or assistance accessing website content, grant guidelines, or applications, please contact ADA Accessibility Coordinator Eli Cabañas by email at vog.eniam@sanabac.ile or by phone at 207-215-5872.
It is the policy of the Maine Arts Commission not to discriminate on the basis of disability. The Commission is dedicated to making our programs accessible and inclusive for people with disabilities and assisting individuals with disabilities in connecting with resources for access to the arts. All programs funded by the Maine Arts Commission must also be accessible.