RELEASE: New Mexico Poetry Out Loud 2026 champ headed to National Competition in Washington, DC
Finals held April 27 – 29, 2026
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Hello everyone,
Santa Fe, NM – The New Mexico Poetry Out Loud champion, Hadas Frish, a 10th grader attending La Cueva High School in Albuquerque, NM, is headed to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, DC, April 27 – 29, 2026. Eleven high school students from schools throughout New Mexico participated in the state finals on Sunday, March 8 at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque.
In addition to competing in the National Finals, Frish will receive a $200 cash prize, and her high school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry materials. As the first runner-up, Noelle Humphreys, a 12th grader at Volcano Vista High School in Albuquerque, will receive $100, with a $200 stipend going to her school.
“What I love most about Poetry Out Loud is how it lets me bring the voices of the women who fought for equality to life,” said Frish. “The poems I recite are all about the suffrage movement and equal rights for women, and I’m so grateful to be a part of sharing the history and emotions behind it.”
Champions from states across the country, including Frish, will compete in the national semifinals on Tuesday, April 28, from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. Champions from each state will perform in one of three semifinal groups, and the top three students from each semifinal group will move on to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. ET. Both days are free and open to the public and will be available through a one-time-only webcast at arts.gov .
Poetry Out Loud is a poetry recitation competition for high school students in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and New Mexico Arts. A program of the NEA and administered by Mid Atlantic Arts, this poetry recitation competition for high school students is designed to improve public speaking skills, build confidence, and teach about literary history. In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, this year’s Poetry Out Loud program is focused on poems that celebrate the rich tapestry of American history and culture.
In total, $50,000 in awards and school/organization stipends, including a $20,000 cash award for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion, will be presented at the National Finals. Mid Atlantic Arts provides and administers all aspects of the monetary prizes awarded and travel arrangements to the Poetry Out Loud National Finals. For more information about this program visit PoetryOutLoud.org
About New Mexico Arts New Mexico Arts is the state’s federally recognized arts agency and a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. New Mexico Poetry Out Loud is made possible by New Mexico Arts through support from the National Endowment for the Arts. For more information about New Mexico Arts visit nmarts.org .
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