The Gaithersburg Book Festival is accepting submissions for its 2027 High School Poetry Contest, which asks students to share their perspectives on the theme “The Things We Carry.”
The contest is open to students enrolled in grades 9 through 12 at a public or private school or in a homeschool program during the 2026-2027 school year. Entrants must live in Maryland, Virginia or Washington, D.C.
The first-place poet will receive $250, while second and third place will receive $100 and $50, respectively. A fan favorite selected through voting on the festival’s website will receive $25.
“One of my favorite parts of the Gaithersburg Book Festival is seeing the creativity and courage of our student poets,” said Festival Chair and Gaithersburg Mayor Jud Ashman. “Each year, they offer fresh perspectives that challenge, inspire and deepen our understanding of one another.”
Poems must be original, previously unpublished and no longer than one page. Submissions must be formatted as a Word document using 12-point Times New Roman font. Poems created using artificial intelligence will not be accepted.
Students must submit their work electronically by midnight on Friday, Feb. 19, 2027. The student’s name and school should not appear in the document or file name.
Up to 12 finalists will be selected and featured on the Gaithersburg Book Festival website. Finalists will also be asked to record a video of themselves reading their poems.
The winners will be announced during the 18th annual Gaithersburg Book Festival at 10:15am on Saturday, May 15, 2027. The presentation will be followed by an open mic reading featuring students and audience members.
Complete rules and regulations can be found online at https://www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org/gbf-programs/poetry-contest/. Questions can be emailed to [email protected]
