Make Plans to Attend North America’s Largest Poetry Festival

North America’s largest poetry festival kicks off in Newark, New Jersey, Oct. 15–17. Dodge Poetry is a collaboration between The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and New Jersey Performing Arts Center, and views poetry “as a catalyst for communities to advance social change.” Ongoing for more than 40 years, the biennial festival welcomes more than 150,000 attendees over its three days.

The 2026 festival will feature performances by paired poets and musicians; a free family celebration; writing workshops; and appearances by individuals such as poet and punk rock icon Patti Smith, 2025–2026 U.S. Poet Laureate Arthur Sze, best-selling poet and young-adult novelist Elizabeth Acevedo, and Pulitzer Prize winner Tyehimbe Jess.

© Courtesy of NJPAC

“This festival, which has been showcasing powerful poetry since 1986, offers the best of both worlds: Poets laureate and Pulitzer Prize winners for the poetry aficionados, along with Family Fun Day and Young Artist Day for those who are dipping their toes into hearing poetry read live and aloud for the first time,” said David Rodriguez, executive producer and executive vice president, New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

“The Dodge Poetry Festival is also a fantastic place for poetry lovers to discover exciting new voices. A selection committee has reviewed work by close to 200 emerging and mid-career artists for consideration at this year’s festival, in addition to the poets we’ve already invited. We are looking forward to revealing our full roster of poets this June,” added Ysabel Y. Gonzalez, producer, poetry and social impact.

Three-day festival passes are on sale this month. One-day passes will become available in August.