End: Monday, February 23, 2026 - 02:30 pm
On Monday, February 23, high school students from across the state will participate in the Poetry Out Loud State Finals at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck. The contest will begin at 9:30am with two rounds of competition in the morning. Five participants will advance to the finals round which will begin at approximately 1:00pm. While final scores are tabulated, spectators will have special entertainment by Native American storyteller and culture bearer Prairie Rose Seminole. After which, the award ceremony will begin at approximately 2:00pm.
The school of the state champion will receive $500 for the purchase of poetry materials. The champion at the state level will receive $200 and advance to the 2026 Poetry Out Loud National Finals April 27-29 in Washington, DC where they will have a chance to compete for the grand prize of $20,000. This event is FREE and open to the public.