2027–2027 National & Statewide Poetry Out Loud Changes — FAQ
When will the 2026–2027 Poetry Out Loud anthology be available?
The national Poetry Out Loud anthology will be updated for the new competition season and will officially go live on September 1, 2026.
Students should wait until the updated anthology is live before making their final competition selections. All poems used for the 2026–2027 competition season must be eligible through the current national Poetry Out Loud anthology.
Where can I find the new anthology?
The full 2026-2027 anthology is available on the national Poetry Out Loud website. Educators and students can search poems, download the PDF, and explore new filters as they are added throughout the fall.
Are there still poem requirement categories like past years?
No. The national program has removed all poem category requirements.
That means:
No more 25-lines-or-fewer requirement
No more pre–20th century requirement
Students may choose any three poems from the current anthology.
How many poems does a student need to prepare?
Students competing beyond the school level must have three poems prepared, all selected from the new anthology.
What is changing with the NJPOL Regional Competitions?
For the 2026–2027 season, Region 6 will not operate as a separate region. Its counties have been incorporated into Regions 4 and 5.
Region 4 will include:
Bergen, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren Counties.
Region 5 will include:
Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties.
Schools in these counties should use their newly assigned region when reviewing competition information, deadlines, and Regional Competition details.
Are there changes to the other NJPOL regions?
The full regional structure for 2026–2027 is:
Region 1: Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Mercer
Region 2: Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland, and Salem
Region 3: Middlesex, Monmouth, and Ocean
Region 4: Bergen, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren
Region 5: Essex, Hudson, and Union
There will be five Regional Competitions statewide this season.
Are the competition rules or evaluation criteria different?
No. Performance, accuracy, and judging criteria remain the same. Only anthology and poem selection rules have changed.
How will NJPOL support educators this season?
The NJPOL team will continue to provide resources and guidance throughout the year, including educator communications, competition materials, Regional Partner support, Poetry Ourselves resources, and information to help schools prepare for Regional and State Competitions.
Questions throughout the season are always welcome. Our goal is to make sure educators and students feel informed, prepared, and supported throughout their Poetry Out Loud experience.
What is changing with Poetry Ourselves?
Poetry Ourselves will return for the 2026–2027 season with a new, more flexible format designed to make the program easier for educators to bring directly into their classrooms.
Rather than participating in a scheduled live workshop, educators will be able to sign up to receive a pre-recorded Poetry Ourselves workshop, along with accompanying materials and activities. This format will allow schools to engage with the workshop on their own schedule while giving students an opportunity to explore poetry beyond recitation and develop their own voices as writers.
Additional information about registration, workshop materials, and participation will be shared during the season.