The northern regional finals of the Poetry Out Loud competition will take place on February 3, 2026, in Presque Isle, showcasing the talents of high school students from Aroostook County. Hosted by former Portland poet laureate Maya Williams, the event aims to provide students with a platform to express themselves through poetry, while also enhancing their understanding of the literary arts.
According to Williams, who is also the Maine Poetry Out Loud 2025-2026 coordinator, the initiative is crucial for students in rural areas. “Access to literary arts should be a right, and yet in our world it is still a privilege and it shouldn’t be,” she stated. This sentiment highlights the importance of regional representation in the arts, ensuring that students from remote locations can engage with and celebrate poetry.
The competitors will not present original works but will recite poems selected from a National Endowment for the Arts-approved anthology. This year, in honor of the nation’s 250th anniversary, all poems will come from previous centuries. Williams noted that students are encouraged to choose pieces that resonate with their personal themes, enriching their performance experience.
Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide program designed to improve students’ public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and deepen their appreciation for poetry. The Maine program is administered by the Maine Arts Commission. Ryan Leighton, communications director for the commission, explained that teachers and educators can access a wealth of free, standards-based resources, including lesson plans and an online poetry anthology, through PoetryOutLoud.org.
The finals will be held at the Mark and Emily Turner Memorial Library in Presque Isle, starting at 17:00 (5 p.m.). Students will compete for a chance to advance to the state-level finals at the Waterville Opera House in March. Each competitor began their journey by studying and performing poems in their classrooms before progressing to school-wide competitions.
One student from the regional winners will earn the opportunity to represent Maine at the National Poetry Out Loud Finals in Washington, D.C., where they could win significant cash awards. The national winner receives $20,000.
The event is open to the community, inviting people of all ages to read a poem during the program, although only students will be competing. This inclusivity aims to foster a love for poetry across all demographics, enhancing the cultural fabric of the region.
