When to watch

The Poetry Out Loud semifinals take place on Tuesday, April 25, 2017, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., where 53 high school students from Eastern, Central, and Western/Pacific regions will compete in three separate semifinals. Visit the webcast page for the full schedule.

Nine students (three from each semifinal) will advance to the national finals on Wednesday, April 26, 2017 between 7:00 and 9:15 p.m. ET to compete for the title of 2017 Poetry Out Loud National Champion.

Register your party

If you’d like to host a Poetry Out Loud webcast viewing party for some or all of this two-day event, please register here. You’ll also find tips and sample materials to help you host and promote a viewing party. Check this list to see if there’s a Poetry Out Loud webcast viewing party in your community.

Poetry Out Loud webcast viewing parties are intended solely as educational events to help foster dialogue about poetry, and about the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest. Poetry Out Loud webcast viewing parties must be free of charge, no purchase requirements of any kind.