National Poetry Month 2026

“Breathes there the man, with soul so dead, who never to himself hath said*,” It’s National Poetry Month! 

Since the Academy of American Poets established National Poetry Month 30 years ago, it’s become one of the world’s largest literary celebrations to celebrate poets’ role in our culture.  

This year’s poster features artwork by Puerto Rican artist Alfredo Richner and lines excerpted from the poem, “The Chance” by Arthur Sze. Why highlight this poet, Arthur Sze? He’s the Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress, named by the Library of Congress for 2025 through 2026. 

Each state also has a poet laureate. California’s Poet Laureate is Lee Herrick of Fresno. Learn more about him here. And why stop there? Each county also has a poet laureate. Santa Clara County’s eighth poet laureate is Yosimar Reyes, who draws inspiration in his work from his personal experiences as an immigrant from Mexico and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Immerse yourself in poetry this month (and maybe longer) with these avenues to observe National Poetry Month

• Sign up for a poem a day here. 
• Read Poets & Writers and Poetry magazines online through the Palo Alto City Library catalog. 
• Explore the Poetry & Short Story Reference Center database 
• Check out The Best American Poetry 2025 book from Mitchell Park Library 
• Find books by and about poets and poetry in the 811 sections of Nonfiction in our libraries. 
• Share photos of your National Poetry Month poster on display by emailing npm@poets.org. 
• Register to take part in Poetry & the Creative Mind 2026, a benefit reading celebrating the 30th anniversary of National Poetry Month Tuesday, April 28 at 7:30 p.m. ET  
• Sign up for these newsletters at the bottom of this page:          
  • Academy of American Poets Newsletter 
  • Academy of American Poets Educator Newsletter 
  • Teach This Poem 
  • Poem-a-Day 

Meet two poets! 

If you’d like to meet a poet or two, come to the Rinconada Book Fair Saturday, April 4. Hear poet Kate Adams (You Spoke Prose, I Heard Poetry) on an author panel and Hilary King’s presentation. For a preview, here is a poem Hilary King wrote that appears on the webpage with poems from Santa Clara County poets. 

Pacifica State Beach, Late October 

By Hilary King 

When I say the beach was teeming with life that day,
I don’t mean the tide pools or how the waves ripped
away from the sand like fabric, sending the hermit crabs scurrying.
I mean the boys who brought to the sand a table on which
they play beer pong, tossing the ball so high, they must make
wild leaps to catch it in their red cups.
I mean the bride and groom embracing at a makeshift altar,
their loved ones clapping behind them,
their dog a runaway bridesmaid in a ruffled collar.
I mean the skateboarders speeding down the boardwalk,
threading through the crowds like silverfish,
past the group in jackets lighting Japanese lanterns,
solemn ceremony turning joyful as the globes rise to the sky,
each flame a wink of gold in the sky as
it turns pink. I mean we were life, our joys expanding,
collapsing into each other, our borders
disappearing, each of us becoming one as the sun
surrendered, that last warm day in October. 

*Sir Walter Scott, The Lay of the Last Minstrel.