2026 Ohio Poetry Day Celebration: October 16-17 in Toledo!

Join us in the great city of Toledo for the 89th annual Ohio Poetry Day celebration!

Friday, October 16 (7:00 PM – 9:00 PM)

Handmade Toledo

1717 Adams Street

Toledo, Ohio 43604

Saturday, October 17 (10:00 AM – 4:00 PM)

Toledo Lucas County Public Library

325 Michigan Street

Toledo, Ohio 43604

Saturday Schedule:

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Set up (including table setup and book room)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: OPD Evan Lodge Workshop led by Professor Jennifer Moore

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Readings by Toledo poets

Lunch available at EatWell Cafe, located inside the library (https://eatwellcafe.org)

(We will be reading in the open atrium, across from the cafe, so you can easily get lunch and still listen to the readings.)

1:00 PM – 2:00 PM: Reading by Poet of the Year

2:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Reading by contest winners

3:00 PM – 3:30 PM: Readings by Toledo poets

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM: open mic

From noon - 4pm, there will also be activity tables in the library available for all, sponsored by the Arts Commission of Greater Toledo.

https://facebook.com/events/s/art-loop-ohio-poetry-day-takeo/27094168250269595/

https://theartscommission.org/events/art-loop

Nearby Accommodations:

  - Renaissance Toledo Downtown Hotel: (419) 244-2444 | 444 North Summit Street

  - Hilton Garden Inn Downtown Toledo: (419) 464-9220 | 101 North Summit Street

  - Homewood Suites by Hilton Toledo Downtown: (419) 464-9220 | 101 North Summit Street

  - The Kings Throne Inn and Guest House: (844) 722-2993 | 2040 Collingwood Blvd.

For additional dining and exploration options in downtown Toledo, please visit https://downtowntoledo.org.

Deep gratitude to Amy Jo Zook, to the Ohio Poetry Association's OPD liaison Eileen Trauth, and to Lucas County Poet Laureate Jonie McIntire.

Nominations Now Being Accepted for Ohio Poet of the Year 2026

Once again in 2026, our friends at the Ohio Poetry Day Association are accepting nominations for the Ohio Poet of the Year. This is the 50th year of handing out the award, which is given for a single book of poetry published in the previous year. Past winners include Mary Oliver, Maggie Smith, David Baker, and Yalie Saweda Kamara. Guidelines are provided below. 

Nomination Guidelines 

• The poet must be a native or a resident of Ohio or, if neither, must have previously lived in Ohio and established close ties to the state.
• There is no form to fill out, no fee, and no letter of recommendation is necessary.
• Books must be nominated by other people, such as a publisher, editor, poet colleague or poetry group.
• Book length: at least 48 pages of poetry. The page count does not include: Title Pages, acknowledgments, illustrations, photographs, or end matter, such as notes.
• Nominated books may be from a commercial, university, small or hybrid press, or self-published, but vanity books will not be considered.
• They may have received previous awards or honors.
• They must have been published between July 1, 2024 and May 1, 2026.
• They must be the work of one poet, and the work is not part of an edited anthology including various poets.
• No translations.
• Poets who have previously entered the contest, but did not win, may submit a different book.
• No one will be chosen a second time as Poet of the Year.
• Nominations must be received by May 26, 2026.

Prize

The award includes a cash prize of $200.00 and a plaque. The winner will be invited to speak at the OPDA luncheon and a poem from the poet’s winning entry will be the lead-off poem in OPDA’s The Best of 2026 book.

Results will be announced in late July 2026, approximately 6-8 weeks following the submission deadline.

To Submit

Mail a copy of the book plus the poet’s mailing address, phone number, email and short bio (50-100 words) to:

Ohio Poet of the Year Competition

Attn: Amy Jo Zook

3520 State Route 56

Mechanicsburg, OH 43044

Questions? Contact Amy Zook @ 937-834-2666.

2026 Ohio Poetry Day Contests Now Open for Submissions

The Ohio Poetry Day Association is pleased announced our annual contests! May 15, 2026, is the deadline (postmark) for two dozen contest categories. Categories include humor, formal poems, parody and more. As always, a “Welcome Aboard” category for first-time submitters and an art category to design the cover art for the 2026 Best of Ohio Poetry Day anthology are also open to submissions. 

Below is a copy of the submission form, which provides full contest information. 

Please note: The single $10 entry fee covers all of the contests you choose to enter (not $10 each). 

Ohio Poetry Day 2026 will take place in October in Toledo, Ohio. Stay up to date on event information, including the event date, location, and agenda, by getting your name and address on the OPD mailing list. To do so, contact:

Amy Jo Zook

3520 State Route 56

Mechanicsburg, OH 43044

Checks for all contest fees and purchases should be made payable to: Ohio Poetry Day. For questions, call (937) 834-2666.

Click and download the image below to view it at full size.