2025 POL County Champion, Alicia Blanco Bautista, with CA Arts Council Chair, Roxanne Messina Captor, CA Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, and CA Arts Council Executive Director Danielle Brazell at the State Competition in Sacramento

timeline

School Registration Deadline
September 30, 2025 click here to register

Student Registration for County Competition Deadline
October 31, 2025

SB County Poetry Out Loud Competition
November 13, 2025 5:30pm
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Hearing Room
105 E Anapamu St. 4th Floor, Santa Barbara

State Finals In Sacramento
March 15-16, 2026

National Finals in Washington D.C.
May 2026

Resources

Poetry Out Loud Anthology
Poetry Out Loud (National)
Poetry Out Loud (State)
Teacher's and Organizer’s Guide

contacts

Hannah Rubalcava
Grants and Contracts Manager
SB County Office of Arts & Culture
hannah@sbac.ca.gov
805-568-3990

2025-26 Poetry out loud competition

what is poetry out loud?

Poetry Out Loud (POL) is a free national program that helps high school students master public speaking, build self-confidence, and connect with their literary heritage—all while competing for recognition and scholarship opportunities.

Since 2006, we’ve proudly presented Poetry Out Loud in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, and the Poetry Foundation. Each year, millions of students across the country participate—and California hosts the largest and most exciting competition of all!

POL gives students the chance to explore great poetry, bring it to life through performance, and earn awards at the school, county, state, and national levels.

how it works

Modeled after a spelling bee, Poetry Out Loud begins each fall in classrooms across the country. High school teachers use free POL materials—including a comprehensive teacher toolkit—to introduce students to poetry recitation and run classroom competitions.

  • Students select poems from the Poetry Out Loud Anthology

  • School champions compete at the county level

  • County winners travel to Sacramento for the California State Finals

  • The state champion moves on to the National Finals in Washington, D.C.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Any public or private high school in California is welcome—and encouraged—to participate. Homeschooled students may join a registered high school’s contest or coordinate a group competition with other homeschoolers.

To register your school, click here.
For questions, contact the staff listed on this page—we’re happy to help!

Poetry Out Loud is committed to accessibility. Teachers are encouraged to involve all students, including those with disabilities. To learn more about accommodations and inclusive practices, click here.

participating high schools

The following Santa Barbara County high schools have participated in Poetry Out Loud: Cabrillo High School, Carpinteria High School, Dos Pueblos High School, Ernest Righetti High School, Laguna Blanca High School, Orcutt Academy, Pioneer Valley High School, Santa Barbara High School, Santa Maria High School

2025 champion

Congratulations to Alicia Blanco Bautista of Righetti High School, 2025 Santa Barbara Poetry Out Loud Champion.